Why do we get dizzy after spinning?

Submitted by theycallmevike t3_zt1lk6 in askscience

I've read we get dizzy from spinning in circles because the fluid in our ear keeps spinning after we stop, however when we spin wouldn't the centrifugal force just push the fluid to one side instead of spin with our body?

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JacquesShiran t1_j1dt1do wrote

Your brain uses a combination of outputs to determine your orientation and keep your balance, this includes mostly the inner ear, vision and the sense of where your limbs are (proprioception).

When those inputs differ, your brain tries to compensate. And often it just can't. Also, one of the things that could make these inputs differ is through some forms of poisoning (I don't really remember how exactly). This is why we developed or survived better with the mechanism of puking when this happens.

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Mammoth-Mud-9609 t1_j1dea16 wrote

There are tiny hairs that "measure" the flow of the of the liquid and once you have been spinning the measurements are no longer accurate so the data from the hairs is corrupted so you haven't a lue which way is up.

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[deleted] t1_j1geawo wrote

[removed]

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przyssawka t1_j1hc7uw wrote

This is incorrect, and a common misconception. BBPV is indeed a disorder caused by otoconia displacement but that displacement won't be commonly caused by a spinning manouvre, but usually by sharp accelerated unidirectional head movements, or changes in the endolymph. Completely unrelated to what we experience after spinning lets say on a merry-go-round.

Animal vision relies on the image on the retina being somewhat stable. Similarly to how a head of a chicken is stablised by neck muscles to prevent "retinal slip" human vision relies on Vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR). Generally speaking oculomotor muscles adjust for movements of the head to stabilise the image by rapidly shifting the eye it in the other direction. Spining movement is a special situation in which (A) - VOR is continuuos and unidirectional and (B) - unable to fully compensate for movement. That causes a level of overcompensation persisting after the movement ends, causing nystagmus, and producing motion sickness symptoms.

EDIT: I don't want to sound hostile but it feels like the response you provided was written by a bot.

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