Résumé
Sea travel mandates changes in the control of the body. The process by which we adapt bodily control to life at sea isknown as getting one’s sea legs. We conducted the first experimental study of bodily control as maritime novices adapted tomotion of a ship at sea. We evaluated postural activity (stance width, stance angle, and the kinematics of body sway) beforeand during a sea voyage. In addition, we evaluated the role of the visible horizon in the control of body sway. Finally, werelated data on postural activity to two subjective experiences that are associated with sea travel; seasickness, and mal dedebarquement. Our results revealed rapid changes in postural activity among novices at sea. Before the beginning of thevoyage, the temporal dynamics of body sway differed among participants as a function of their (subsequent) severity ofseasickness. Body sway measured at sea differed among participants as a function of their (subsequent) experience of malde debarquement. We discuss implications of these results for general theories of the perception and control of bodilyorientation, for the etiology of motion sickness, and for general phenomena of perceptual-motor adaptation and learning.