Naked Science Forum

General Science => General Science => Topic started by: Seany on 13/04/2007 11:51:11

Title: Why do I feel dizzy when I spin?
Post by: Seany on 13/04/2007 11:51:11

When I spin around and around and around and around, then it makes me feel dizzy. Why? [:0]

Title: Why do I feel dizzy when I spin?
Post by: paul.fr on 13/04/2007 13:21:06

pops in

When you spin, the endolymph slowly moves in the direction you are spinning. The movement of the endolymph signals the brain that the head is spinning. The brain quickly adapts to the signal because the endolymph begins to move at the same rate that you are spinning and no longer stimulates the hair cells. However, when you stop spinning, the endolymph continues to move and stimulate hair cells in the opposite direction. These hair cells send signals to the brain. The brain determines that the head is still spinning, even though you have stopped. This is where the dizzy feeling comes from. Eventually, the endolymph stops moving, no signals are sent to the brain, your brain determines that your motion has stopped, and you no longer feel dizzy.
Try this short experiment, unless you are extremely sensitive to dizziness.

Spin around 5-10 times rapidly to the right and stop. When you stop, you will feel slightly dizzy as described above.
When you have recovered, repeat step 1, but when you stop this time, immediately spin the same number of times to the left and stop. You should now find that when you stop, you do not feel as dizzy.
In the second situation, you have begun to move the endolymph in opposite directions and the two effects of motion tend to cancel out.
Frequently, astronauts in orbit become dizzy because, without the earth's strong gravity, they are constantly falling. Remember that sinking feeling in your stomach when your car hits a dip in the road or you experience a dip on a roller coaster ride. Imagine having that feeling all of the time! Because there is no clear orientation of gravity in space, the otolithic organs do not work well, so "up" or "down" becomes meaningless. Scuba divers have a similar experience. Buoyancy affects the otolithic organs in the same way as the lack of gravity does. Therefore, it is easy for a diver to become disoriented underwater and not know which way is up or down without other visual cues.

pops out.

Title: Why do I feel dizzy when I spin?
Post by: Seany on 13/04/2007 13:23:55

Ah, thanks Paul once again! I will try the experiment and see, although I can tell what the result will be. Still interesting huh? [:P]

Also Paul, please could you answer the Mirror Room question? I'm really depserate for that to be answered [:D]