Understanding and Reducing Cybersickness with Brain Neurofeedback: A PhD project in realtime fMRI, VR/XR, and cognitive neuroscience

About the Project

This interdisciplinary PhD project will investigate the neural mechanisms underlying cybersickness (virtual reality-induced motion sickness; VRMS) and explore how realtime fMRI neurofeedback can be used to reduce its effects. As Virtual Reality (VR) and Extended Reality (XR) technologies become increasingly important in entertainment, remote collaboration, and future transport systems, cybersickness remains a major obstacle limiting widespread adoption. Symptoms can include nausea, dizziness, fatigue, visual discomfort, and reduced tolerance of immersive environments.

The project will be co-supervised by Professors Frank Pollick in the School of Psychology & Neuroscience and Stephen Brewster in the School of Computing Science. It will combine cognitive neuroscience, neuroimaging, machine learning, and human–computer interaction to examine how the brain integrates visual, vestibular, and bodily-state information during immersive VR experiences. A particular focus will be placed on the insular cortex, a brain region involved in interoception, salience processing, autonomic regulation, and motion perception. Using fMRI, including ultrahigh-field 7T MRI at the University of Glasgow Imaging Centre of Excellence (ICE), the student will develop realtime fMRI neurofeedback approaches to determine whether participants can learn to regulate insula activity and reduce susceptibility to cybersickness.