Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Sopite syndrome
Introduction
Sopite syndrome is a poorly understood manifestation of motion sickness that causes drowsiness, mood changes, mental depression, and fatigue.[1] Sophite syndrome may be the cause of motion-induced sleepiness that is experienced in situations such as driving, flying and being on a boat. It is also believed to be why babies fall asleep when rocked.[2] Sopite syndrome has been linked to the vestibular system which may modulate the effects of motion that both causes (“rocking”) and disturbs (“shaking awake”) sleep.[3] Astronauts experiencing sopite syndrome have dubbed it “mental viscosity” or “the space stupids.”.[4]