Motion sickness questionnaire and field independence scores as predictors of success in naval aviation training.

The present report has shown that a motion sickness questionnaire can be used to predict susceptibility to motion sickness or flight training success, depending on the items scored. There is a discussion of the theory that motion sickness results from conflicting perceptual inputs. This theory is related to aircraft operating conditions. Scores on a personality test which appear to be related to similar perceptual phenomena are related to aviation success. One phenotype, field independence, seems to be promising in this regard. In addition to use of this finding in aviator selection, it is felt that studies of this trait, as it relates to an ability to reconcile conflict and to motion sickness insusceptibility, should be conducted.