Abstract
The massive earthquake on Japan 2011 was followed by a huge numbers of aftershocks, in even suburbs of Tokyo which is more than 350 kilometers away from epicenter of the earthquake. We conducted an intergroup trial on equilibrium dysfunctions and effects of psychological aftermaths on equilibrium dysfunctions in survivors who exposed versus rarely-exposed repetitive aftershocks. Here we show greater equilibrium dysfunctions in aftershock-exposed survivors without visual compensations. We also show that the equilibrium dysfunction in aftershocks-exposed survivors seems to be a consequence of the disturbance of inner ear, and related to the individual vulnerability to the state anxiety enhanced by the repetitive-exposure of aftershocks per se. Our findings might contribute to risk managements of the massive earthquake for mental and physical health in general, and hold potentialities for a new empirical approach for disaster care against a mega earthquake with aftershocks.
