Music softens morals, they say. But did you know that just one sound could also calm travel sickness? This is the finding of a Japanese study published a few days ago, and which could change many family journeys.
Car sickness, a disorder that affects one in 3 people
Dr Gérald Kierzek, medical director of True Medical, reminds us of this. Motion sickness (or motion sickness) occurs when the brain receives conflicting information: “The eyes perceive a stable environment, such as the interior of a car, while the inner ear detects vehicle movements.he specifies. Consequences ? A journey that becomes painful for the affected person with symptoms ranging from nausea to dizziness, even vomiting. “A disorder that affects one in 3 people confirms our expert.
To soothe these symptoms, our tools today are limited to a few simple means:
- Look at the horizon to realign your visual cues;
- Avoid reading or screens;
- Favor the front seat in vehicles;
- Consume ginger, known for its anti-nausea properties
- Or ask a pharmacy for advice on suitable medications.
But a new, even simpler element could soothe the sick person.
A precise frequency shows the symptoms
According to research conducted at the University of Tokyo, a simple sound frequency could also offer relief, in just one minute of listening and without side effects or medications. This would be a sound at 100 Hz broadcast at 65.9 dBa (or A-weighted decibels) since called Sound Spice.
To find out, the researchers placed mice in conditions simulating motion sickness and exposed some of them to this specific sound. Result: those exposed to 100 Hz sound showed a notable reduction in the physiological signs associated with motion sickness, including reduced activity and body temperature? No other type of sound (white noise, higher or lower frequency) gave comparable results on these small subjects.
Published in the magazine Environmental Health and Preventive Medicinethe study reveals equally encouraging results in humans. It would only take a minute of listening to alleviate the effects of motion sickness. Participants were better able to tolerate prolonged movements in different situations, such as on a swing or during simulated or real rides. Physiological data shows significant improvement compared to the unexposed control group.
Technology that could change holidays
Are we ready to slip an “anti-nausea” playlist into our children’s headphones? What is certain is that this discovery would have enormous application potential, underlines Dr Kierzek. Imagine headphones in which, discreetly, this 100 Hz sound stabilizes your stomach during a long-haul flight. Or a system integrated into car headrests for sensitive passengers. This simple innovation could radically improve the quality of life for those who dread every trip.
“This discovery about sounds could lead to the development of applications or integrated devices that could radically change everyone’s journeys and comfort” concludes our expert.