Unlocking Relief: How a New Brain Circuit Linked to Motion Sickness Could Revolutionize Metabolic Health

Motion sickness is a common condition that impacts around 1 in 3 people. Recent research from Baylor College of Medicine and partners has uncovered a brain circuit linked to motion sickness that also plays a role in body temperature and metabolism. These findings could lead to new ways to address obesity.

Dr. Yong Xu, a key researcher in this study, initially hesitated to explore motion sickness. However, when postdoctoral fellow Dr. Longlong Tu pointed out the connection between motion sickness and metabolic regulation, Dr. Xu became intrigued. As he studies the brain’s metabolism control, the link to motion sickness seemed promising.

In their experiments, the team used mice, as these animals allow researchers to delve into the genetic and molecular mechanisms of brain function. However, there’s a catch: mice don’t vomit, which complicates studying motion sickness, a condition often marked by nausea in humans.

Interestingly, when exposed to motion, both mice and humans experience a drop in body temperature, known as hypothermia. This observation led the researchers to develop a mouse model to measure temperature and activity levels during motion. They discovered that motion activates certain neurons in the brain that are essential for regulating body temperature.

When they inhibited these neurons in the absence of movement, the mice’s body temperature increased, and their physical activity rose. This suggests that tampering with these neurons could change how energy is spent in the body.

“Our findings show that the brain’s vestibular system plays a crucial role in metabolic balance,” says Dr. Xu. “Understanding how the brain regulates temperature during motion could open new avenues for obesity treatment.”

The team also noted that when these neurons were inhibited, mice experienced positive metabolic changes: they ate more but gained less weight, showed better glucose tolerance, and had improved insulin sensitivity. These effects suggest that there might be overlooked connections between motion sickness and obesity.

This study highlights an important insight: addressing the neural mechanisms behind motion sickness could lead to innovative strategies for treating obesity. And for Dr. Tu, who is personally impacted by motion sickness, these findings offer hope for better treatments in the future.

As we delve deeper into the connections between our brain and body, we might find surprising ways to improve health and well-being.

For more information on this study, you can visit Baylor College of Medicine.

For the full research, check the study published in Nature Metabolism here: doi.org/10.1038/s42255-025-01234-9.

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Brain, Motion Sickness, Obesity, Children, Chronic, Hospital, Hypothermia, Medicine, Metabolism, Neurons, Nutrition, Pediatrics, Physical Activity, Research