Special senses: motion sickness: practice question

A Physiology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Physiology · Special senses: motion sickness

Sample item

A passenger reading in a ship's cabin becomes nauseated, sweaty and pale as the ship rolls, although the eyes see a still room. Which mechanism best explains the symptoms?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Mismatch between vestibular and visual inputs

Motion sickness arises when vestibular signals of movement conflict with visual and proprioceptive signals, activating pathways to the vomiting centre and autonomic outflow. Anticholinergic and antihistamine drugs act on these vestibular pathways.

Option by option

  • A. Overactivity of the olfactory pathway to cortex

    Smell is not the trigger of motion sickness.

  • B. Direct damage to the cochlea and hearing loss

    The cochlea carries hearing, not motion signals.

  • C. Raised intracranial pressure from a mass lesion

    Raised intracranial pressure causes headache and vomiting but not a pattern tied to motion.

  • D. Mismatch between vestibular and visual inputs (correct)

    Correct. Conflicting vestibular and visual signals trigger nausea and autonomic symptoms.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Physiology question

What is the answer to this Physiology question?

The best answer is D, Mismatch between vestibular and visual inputs. Motion sickness arises when vestibular signals of movement conflict with visual and proprioceptive signals, activating pathways to the vomiting centre and autonomic outflow.

Why is "Overactivity of the olfactory pathway to cortex" not the answer?

Smell is not the trigger of motion sickness.

Why is "Direct damage to the cochlea and hearing loss" not the answer?

The cochlea carries hearing, not motion signals.

Why is "Raised intracranial pressure from a mass lesion" not the answer?

Raised intracranial pressure causes headache and vomiting but not a pattern tied to motion.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Special senses: motion sickness in Physiology. Anticholinergic and antihistamine drugs act on these vestibular pathways.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Special senses: motion sickness?

For each system, sketch the key graph (pressure–volume loop, oxygen dissociation curve, nephron handling) and explain it aloud. Then use the flashcards and the other Physiology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.