Final answer:
Motion sickness in a car arises from conflicting sensory information, particularly between what one sees and what the balance system feels. Our brain summarizes sensory input to aid survival and navigation but this can sometimes lead to deceptive perceptions, indicating the importance of questioning sensory experiences for critical thinking.
Step-by-step explanation:
Many people experience motion sickness while traveling in a car due to contradictory inputs from the senses of sight, balance (vestibular sense), and sometimes hearing. These senses are critical for driving, as they provide information about our environment and movements. When there is a mismatch between what we see and what our inner ears, which help control balance, feel, we might experience motion sickness. For example, when reading in a moving car, your eyes are focused on a stationary object, but your inner ear senses motion, leading to confusion in the brain.
Our brains constantly work to present a summary of the world that is relevant for survival and navigation. The information we perceive doesn't always present a full picture of reality but rather a 'sketch' that highlights events of consequence. This edited version of sensory input helps us navigate safely and obtain what we need. However, it is important to become skeptical of our senses at times, as they can deceive us, emphasizing the need to become better critical thinkers.
In driving scenarios, sensory information informs decisions such as when to hit the brakes and how to react to potential hazards. A driver relies on visual cues to gauge distance and motion, auditory cues for signals like horns, and the sense of balance to maintain control of the vehicle.