is known to increase the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system and very often people suffering from car sickness feel better when the window is opened and they are able to breathe fresh air. it was considered this may prevent abnormal rhythm in the stomach and hence prevent symptoms of motion sickness.

Forty six healthy men and women were each, in turn, put in a rotating optokinetic drum and all were found to be susceptible to motion sickness. They were then asked to count a slow deep breathing exercise during a sixteen minute period before going back in the drum. This time, however, the symptoms of motion sickness was significantly reduced.

The researchers concluded that, in those situations known to provoke stomach and motion sickness such as air, car and boat travel, slow, deep breathing exercises significantly decrease the onset of the stomach and motion symptoms, especially if the exercises are carried out before the situation likely to promote the motion sickness.