Detrimental effects of wind-induced building motion on occupant work and task performance

![CDATA[We present recent multidisciplinary research conducted by psychologists, engineers and physiologists investigating the effects of wind-induced building motion on wellbeing, manual task performance and cognitive performance. In a sample of actual office workers, we show that sopite syndrome is the main consequence of exposure to wind-induced building motion. Sopite syndrome, a form of mild motion sickness characterized by drowsiness and low motivation, is the main cause of reductions in work performance. Experimental research shows that biomechanical properties of the human body are influenced by the frequency of motion, which amplifies body sway and interferes with task performance at 0.5 Hz, and to a greater extent with increases in acceleration. Exposure to motion induced sopite syndrome in some participants, who performed significantly worse than unaffected individuals. A new generation of serviceability criteria should aim to minimize sopite syndrome, motion sickness, motion induced body sway, and other psychological and physiological factors, rather than only address perception thresholds, which will likely allow engineers and designers to create a new generation of buildings that will ensure an improved level of comfort and performance for building occupants.]]