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Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: Rhubarb on 13/12/2007 20:54:23

Title: The Dizzy Drunk and the Spinning Room
Post by: Rhubarb on 13/12/2007 20:54:23

Which direction does the room spin when you are drunk enough to think that it is spinning? Does this direction reverse depending on the location of the drunk, (Northern hemisphere, southern hemisphere)

Title: The Dizzy Drunk and the Spinning Room
Post by: neilep on 13/12/2007 22:04:03

Hi Rhubarb and welcome to the site.

I've only been drunk a few times and if I recall, it's more like a total disorientation.....I don't think the actual room spins unless you are !!.....you only have the two eyes, and unless you're an iguana and can see a much wider field of view, then all you can see is what is in front of you.....

...I am pretty sure the ' spinning room ' is a term of phrase and so...which ever hemsiphere you are in does not make a difference !

Title: The Dizzy Drunk and the Spinning Room
Post by: elegantlywasted on 13/12/2007 22:45:50

Now I apparently have been drunk many more times than my dear friend Neil has, and let me tell you - I personally feel like I am spinning in a counter clockwise direction. Now living in a house with seven girls, 6 of which like to drink, I took a survey. One feels like it is a general wobble, not in any specific direction. One feels it is a clockwise rotation and another agrees with me; counter-clockwise. The other 2 are no where to be found.

Alas do not worry - the beer is downstairs chilling as we speak. I should have an answer for you in about 6 hours. [:)]

By the way - this post is not an excuse for us to drink - exams are over.

Title: The Dizzy Drunk and the Spinning Room
Post by: neilep on 14/12/2007 00:49:59

Quote from: elegantlywasted on 13/12/2007 22:45:50

Now I apparently have been drunk many more times than my dear friend Neil has, and let me tell you - I personally feel like I am spinning in a counter clockwise direction. Now living in a house with seven girls, 6 of which like to drink, I took a survey. One feels like it is a general wobble, not in any specific direction. One feels it is a clockwise rotation and another agrees with me; counter-clockwise. The other 2 are no where to be found.

Alas do not worry - the beer is downstairs chilling as we speak. I should have an answer for you in about 6 hours. [:)]

By the way - this post is not an excuse for us to drink - exams are over.

Please email me your Canadaian address so that I can visit your house when all ewe girls are drunk ....It is purely for scientific reasons !! [::)] [::)]

Title: The Dizzy Drunk and the Spinning Room
Post by: elegantlywasted on 14/12/2007 06:14:24

Quote from: neilep on 14/12/2007 00:49:59

....It is purely for scientific reasons !! [::)] [::)]

sure sure...

Title: The Dizzy Drunk and the Spinning Room
Post by: that mad man on 14/12/2007 18:35:04

I don't get the spinning but a north south feeling.........as the floor zooms up on me!
 [;D]

Title: The Dizzy Drunk and the Spinning Room
Post by: opus on 15/12/2007 00:48:22

another name for this syndrome is 'whirlybeds'.
  I think it was  Dean Martin who said if you're able to lie on the floor without holding on, then you're not drunk!

Title: The Dizzy Drunk and the Spinning Room
Post by: Rhubarb on 15/12/2007 17:40:45

Oh, I think I'm going to like this Forum.
Thanks Neil, for your welcome and I'll take down that Canadian address of the 6 researching girls as well, thanks. Love to watch research in action! Gotta love Canadian women LOL Go girls!
I'll also be adding "Whirlybeds" to my American Dictionary of Slang, thanks opus
Me, I think I'll be continuing with my experiment. Counter or clockwise, it all good to me. And I will persist until I solve this mystery.

Title: The Dizzy Drunk and the Spinning Room
Post by: elegantlywasted on 16/12/2007 00:23:36

Ok good news and bad news:

We girls did get drunk enough to have a pillow fight [;)] but not so mush so that we felt the spins. Sorry Neil, maybe next time [;)] And NO I did not take pictures!

Title: The Dizzy Drunk and the Spinning Room
Post by: techmind on 17/12/2007 00:27:15

Quote from: Rhubarb on 13/12/2007 20:54:23

Which direction does the room spin when you are drunk enough to think that it is spinning? Does this direction reverse depending on the location of the drunk, (Northern hemisphere, southern hemisphere)

My friends used to call this effect "to spin out" and it was widely regarded as one of the worst ways to end an evening. I've only had the experience a couple of times... and it's much like when you get dizzy from spinning around as a child - except it lasts for hours, not seconds. In my experience, it's not "fast", but just an intolerable "drifting" of space (in a persistant direction, horizontal to diagonal) which makes one even more nauseus ... and I dare not go to sleep. Eugghh!

I very much doubt that the hemisphere has anything to do with it. I guess the effect occurs when the nerves from the labyrinth (vestibular/balence sensors) in the inner-ears are sufficiently numbed due to alcohol...?

Title: The Dizzy Drunk and the Spinning Room
Post by: Rhubarb on 17/12/2007 22:57:27

Thoshe Canadian women are so shmart. No pishures, no evidensh. I'm guessing they will be looking for funding for further research??????
Yes, that's the experience I get, more of a drifting in one direction. But left to right or right to left, from which might be deduced a counter or clockwise motion??? If we only see part of the movement/circular motion, not being iguanas and all, maybe if we follow through, we will find the answer.
I will consult with my iguana, and yes I really do have one, she's a beauty at 3 feet long, and research funding for a booze cruise the Antarctic to gather results for comparison,
Are you in girls??????? Neil?????

Title: The Dizzy Drunk and the Spinning Room
Post by: neilep on 18/12/2007 00:05:41

Quote from: Rhubarb on 17/12/2007 22:57:27

Thoshe Canadian women are so shmart. No pishures, no evidensh. I'm guessing they will be looking for funding for further research??????
Yes, that's the experience I get, more of a drifting in one direction. But left to right or right to left, from which might be deduced a counter or clockwise motion??? If we only see part of the movement/circular motion, not being iguanas and all, maybe if we follow through, we will find the answer.
I will consult with my iguana, and yes I really do have one, she's a beauty at 3 feet long, and research funding for a booze cruise the Antarctic to gather results for comparison,
Are you in girls??????? Neil?????

*hic*...do ewe really really *hic* hav an iguana ?...you're my beshtest frend *hic* ewe are !!........yesh...pleesh to count *hic* me in the booz crooz !!..YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY !!  (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Fdrinking%2F4.gif&hash=9bd4f968a6d26b91d58f1716741abd3a)

Title: The Dizzy Drunk and the Spinning Room
Post by: Rhubarb on 18/12/2007 22:32:32

QUICK NEIL BEFORE YOU SOBER UP
COUNTER OR CLOCKWISE?
IGUANA IS SITTING THERE WITH THAT SILLY MONA LISA SMILE
AND NOT CONTRIBUTING, BUT SHE IS PINK!

Title: The Dizzy Drunk and the Spinning Room
Post by: neilep on 18/12/2007 22:39:12

Quote from: Rhubarb on 18/12/2007 22:32:32

QUICK NEIL BEFORE YOU SOBER UP
COUNTER OR CLOCKWISE?
IGUANA IS SITTING THERE WITH THAT SILLY MONA LISA SMILE
AND NOT CONTRIBUTING, BUT SHE IS PINK!

I fink it'sh counter clockwise...*hic*...hold on...thatsh could be...*hic*... becaush I'm shpinning shclockwise !! *hic*...............uh oh !!......(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Fpuking%2F2.gif&hash=4458371e7ae7538de98e250a67ec2b78)

Title: The Dizzy Drunk and the Spinning Room
Post by: Karen W. on 19/12/2007 04:12:00

LOL LOL! You two are funny!

Title: The Dizzy Drunk and the Spinning Room
Post by: Carolyn on 19/12/2007 05:10:39

I've always heard that if you're lying down and the room is spinning (clockwise or counter clockwise) that if you keep one foot on the floor it will make the spinning stop.  This has NEVER worked for me and yet I continued to try it.  Does it work for anyone or is that just a myth?

Title: The Dizzy Drunk and the Spinning Room
Post by: ukmicky on 19/12/2007 10:02:04

I've had thye spinning feeling on the odd occasion and the direction of spin usally depends on which foot i use to push my chair round.

When i've had it due to drinking to much, it tends to happen only if i close my eyes and if i remember rightly which can be a problem after having a drink the direction of spin was determined by and could actualy be altered by             first.

So as you can see its quite possible to decide before hand which way you wish spin. Hope that helps :)

Title: The Dizzy Drunk and the Spinning Room
Post by: elegantlywasted on 19/12/2007 17:06:59

Quote from: Carolyn on 19/12/2007 05:10:39

I've always heard that if you're lying down and the room is spinning (clockwise or counter clockwise) that if you keep one foot on the floor it will make the spinning stop.  This has NEVER worked for me and yet I continued to try it.  Does it work for anyone or is that just a myth?

I've tried it and nope... doesn't work. The Only cure for the spins is to get up and make yourself vomit up all the booze thats still sitting in your stomach. After that, you should feel as good as new. Also, vomiting before bed also reduces the severity of your next day hangover. The downside is getting a nick name like "Pukey McGee".

Title: The Dizzy Drunk and the Spinning Room
Post by: Bored chemist on 19/12/2007 18:04:56

I used to find that having the radio on quietly stopped the room spinning - I presume this was because I could hear where it was and it didn't move. I'm not sure because I wasn't well placed to do any complex research at the time.

Title: The Dizzy Drunk and the Spinning Room
Post by: opus on 20/12/2007 15:21:10

used tocall the kind of vomiting induced by heavy drinking as "calling for Bob, Ruth and Hughie"

Title: The Dizzy Drunk and the Spinning Room
Post by: Rhubarb on 22/12/2007 18:54:29

Merry Christmas all and happy and safe researching over the holidays!

Title: The Dizzy Drunk and the Spinning Room
Post by: Rhubarb on 12/01/2008 05:17:25

used tocall the kind of vomiting induced by heavy drinking as "calling for Bob, Ruth and Hughie"


Now this is funny
should be melded into one word with accents added to denote the echo of the bowl lol
another addition to the American dictionary of Slang
Happy 2008