I checked out the powerpoint from the Stritch Medical School that you posted (http://www.meddean.luc.edu/) ... it seems an early version of a classroom lecture that need narration to understand the references to the various anatomical and neurological illustrations. Not sure how much it would clarify your question of balance ... perhaps its incompleteness was intended to confuse, resulting in loss of balance?

Loss of balance is both physiological and psychological. Your description of how one feels loss of balance without a physiological stimulation to the auditory semi-circular canals sounds more psychological than physiological to me. But to take it one step further ... the Greeks started talking about the psyche and soma 2,500 years ago as if they were separated, and western thought only recently have recognized that they are separable for analytical purposes only. So, the psychological experience of lost balance can have a physiological response ... how the exact neurological mechanism works is a bit out of my area of expertise: I'm not a physician. But it seems logical to me that if one can manipulate physical sensata to produce a psychological response, then the opposite would not seem to be much of a stretch.

I don't know why it was created, looks to me more like a refresher for experienced students rather than an incomplete piece for beginners.

But that's neither here nor there. As I said, I just stuck it in so people could get an idea of all the various parts and places balance organs exist.

I suspect loss of balance is more physical than mental in the case of the illusions. As it appears you should know, each person is wired differently. An excellent example of that are the fast and slow twitch muscle fibres.

It appears to me people who have no problem yet are dizzied by visuals probably have a stronger visual nerve connection to balance than the rest of us. Or perhaps weaker input from other balance sources.

Fromz, "Science, the explanation" as you founded on this board, keeps me returning here.

Foremost, I do have very poor balance. Not a complaint, but a note of fact. It sure has never improved since my parents nick named me "Duck Foot" at the age of 4-5 before taking me to ballet classes that never helped. The conclusion of weaker or stronger, still to be determined, only lets me know that I am uniquely wired.

As I age, I complain more about my lack of balance. I shuffle my feet more as I walk, and I hold on to railings now if I can. Although it is not a handicap for me, as best as you could explain it, why I did note yesterday's post freaked me out. Thanks for the follow up.

It all boils down to being a dizzy blonde I think.

Shuffling is a bad thing.

Do you also tend to look at the ground close to where you're walking? If so, you;re increasing your chance of a fall - that puts your sensors out of the normal position. (I know I saw that somewhere yesterday. Can't remember where tho.)

Oh, no! Yep, I do. My DH has pointed out that I am missing things of beauty as I walk because my eyes are pointed downward now. Used to walk a great stride with my head held up.

Geez, so now I really feel crappy. LOL!

Naw, just force yourself to look ahead. It's just like relearning good posture.

You know the drill, back straight, head up.

It may even cure the shuffle as you need to pick your feet up to avoid dragging on small irregularities.

On a moving catamaran in mid-ocean, where you've become accustomed to the motion, its almost impossible to pour coffee into a cup on a counter: you nearly always miss the cup.

All of your senses telling you that you're level?