Question: Why do I feel dizzy when I spin

Maheen Siddiqui answered on 13 Jun 2016:

Quite surprisingly, ears play the important role of helping us maintain our balance.

In the inner part of the ear has open spaces filled with fluid. The walls inside the spaces are covered by small hairs called inner hair cells or “stereocilia”, these are connected to cells that carry signals or messages to the brain. When our head moves, the fluid also moves around and bends the hairs and as each hair bends, it sends a signal to the brain to let the brain know about this movement!

When you spin around, the fluid in your ear starts spinning as well, which is what gives you the spinning feeling. And when you stop the fluid still keeps moving and keeps sending signals to the brain (through the hair cells) and so you may feel like you are spinning backwards or feeling dizzy!