* Conflicting Sensory Input: Your inner ear (vestibular system) detects motion, but your eyes (visual system) might not see the same motion, especially in a car where you're relatively stationary while the vehicle moves. This discrepancy between what your brain receives from your inner ear and your eyes creates confusion. Other senses, like your proprioceptive system (sense of body position), can also contribute to this conflict.
* Brain's Interpretation: This sensory conflict is interpreted by the brain as a possible poisoning. As a survival mechanism, your brain triggers symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and dizziness to expel the perceived toxin (which, of course, isn't actually a toxin).
Several factors can worsen car sickness:
* Type of Motion: Sudden acceleration, deceleration, braking, and turns are more likely to cause car sickness than smooth, straight driving. Reading or focusing on a small, close-up object inside the car can exacerbate the problem.
* Individual Susceptibility: Some people are simply more prone to motion sickness than others. This susceptibility can be genetic or learned.
* Poor Ventilation: A stuffy, poorly ventilated car can make symptoms worse.
* Stress and Anxiety: Feeling nervous or anxious can heighten sensitivity to motion.
* Certain Medications: Some medications can increase the risk of motion sickness.
In short, it's not the motion itself, but the brain's conflicting interpretation of sensory information that causes the symptoms of car sickness.
