薄荷錠與口香糖介入對於使用虛擬實境產生之動暈症的影響

目的使用虛擬實境 (Virtual Reality, VR) 時，部分使用者容易出現動暈症 (Cybersickness) ，產生如頭暈、噁心等不適症狀，進而影響其對虛擬實境的接受度與此技術的普及性。有鑑於此情形，本研究旨在探討市售含薄荷成分產品對虛擬實境所誘發動暈症狀的緩解效果，並進一步比較含薄荷成分與不含薄荷口香糖在改善成效上的差異。方法本研究共納入76名年齡介於18至30歲之健康成年人 (平均年齡21.50 ± 2.27歲)。受試者遊玩虛擬實境遊戲Kayak VR: Mirage，並於過程中以快速動暈症量表 (FMS) 評估動暈症狀，當FMS總分達7分時，隨機介入一款食品 (薄荷錠、薄荷口香糖、無薄荷口香糖)，隨後持續追蹤介入後5分鐘內之症狀變化。受試者於試驗前皆完成視覺功能檢測與動暈易感性問卷 (MSSQ) 填寫。資料經由IBM SPSS Statistics 22.0軟體進行分析。結果三組受試者在食品介入後的動暈症狀緩解情形呈現差異。薄荷錠組在介入後的第5分鐘FMS總分顯著低於無薄荷口香糖組 (p < .01)，具最明顯且持續的緩解效果；薄荷口香糖組亦於介入後前2分鐘內出現顯著緩解 (p < .05)，但其效果相對短暫；而無薄荷口香糖組則僅在介入後3分鐘內呈現短暫之緩解效果。Spearman等級相關分析結果顯示，動暈易感性與達到介入門檻所需時間呈中度負相關 (ρ = −.307, p = .007)，顯示本研究中動暈易感者越傾向於短時間內出現症狀。結論虛擬實境所引發之動暈症狀可以透過食品介入予以緩解，其中，薄荷錠具最顯著且持續的緩解效果，薄荷口香糖次之；無薄荷口香糖則僅於介入後3分鐘內具短暫緩解效益。

PurposeWhen using Virtual Reality (VR), some users are prone to experiencing cybersickness, characterized by symptoms such as dizziness and nausea. These adverse effects may reduce user acceptance and limit the broader adoption of VR technology. To address this issue, the present study aims to examine the effectiveness of commercially available mint-containing products in alleviating VR-induced cybersickness. Additionally, this study compares the efficacy of mint-flavored chewing gum with that of non-mint-flavored chewing gum in mitigating cybersickness symptoms.MethodsA total of 76 healthy adults aged 18 to 30 years (mean age: 21.50 ± 2.27 years) participated in the study. Participants engaged in the VR game Kayak VR: Mirage while their symptoms were assessed using the Fast Motion Sickness Scale (FMS). Once a participant’s total FMS score reached 7, they were randomly given one of three interventions: a peppermint lozenge, peppermint chewing gum, or non-peppermint chewing gum. Symptom changes were monitored over a five-minute period following the intervention. Prior to the experiment, all participants underwent visual function tests and completed the Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire (MSSQ). Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 22.0.ResultsThe three groups showed varying degrees of cybersickness symptom relief following the intervention. The peppermint lozenge group demonstrated the most pronounced and sustained reduction, with FMS scores at 5 minutes post-intervention significantly lower than the non-peppermint gum group (p < .01). The peppermint gum group also exhibited a notable but short-lived reduction within the first 2 minutes (p < .05), while the non-peppermint gum group exhibited only a brief alleviation within 3 minutes after intervention. A Spearman rank-order correlation revealed a moderate negative correlation between motion sickness susceptibility and the time taken to reach the intervention threshold (ρ = - .307, p = .007), indicating that participants with higher susceptibility tended to develop symptoms more rapidly.ConclusionFood-based interventions can help mitigate Virtual Reality Induced Symptoms and Effects. Among the tested products, peppermint lozenge provided the most pronounced and lasting relief, followed by peppermint gum. Non-peppermint gum offered only temporary symptom reduction within the initial few minutes post-intervention.