Why Do We Get Dizzy?

The semicircular canals in the inner ear contain fluid called endolymph that shifts when your head moves, bending tiny hair cells that tell the brain about rotation. When you spin and suddenly stop, the fluid continues moving for several seconds, so the brain receives a motion signal that clashes with what the eyes see. This mismatch produces the sensation of dizziness, or vertigo. Repeated exposure, such as figure-skating training, can reduce the effect by training the brain to reconcile the conflicting inputs faster.