Does your head spin when you go to bed drunk? then read on...

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Unofficial Newcastle United Football Club BBS : One Thread

> This was posted on a radio science talkback site in Oz. Why is it > that when you get a little drunk and go to bed, you can feel the room spin? > > It's because the alcohol changes the density of some of the bits of > your balance system. > > Your balance sensors are in each inner ear on each side of your head. There is a small blob of jelly, attached to the VIIIth Cranial Nerve. > > The blob of jelly normally has exactly the same density as the liquid (endolymph) which surrounds it. So the little blob of jelly in the liquid will neither sink nor float - but it will move if there's any acceleration going on. When it moves it stimulates the VIIIth Cranial Nerve, which then sends signals to your balance centres in your brain. > > When alcohol gets into the blood stream, it slowly diffuses into the > endolymph, and makes it more dense. So the little blobs of jelly > begins to float, and this stimulates the VIIIth Cranial Nerve, giving you the impression that your bed is spinning. > > As the night wears on, the alcohol gradually diffuses into the blob of jelly as well, making it as dense as the liquid it floats in - so the spinning sensation lessens. After a few more hours, the alcohol begins to leave the endolymph, so now the blob of jelly is slightly denser, and you get the impression of spinning in the opposite direction. > > So you could go to sleep with the room spinning one way, and wake up > with it spinning the other way. >

-- Anonymous, March 23, 2000

Answers

Is that why the i stand on the kebab when i wake up the next morning ?

-- Anonymous, March 23, 2000

Bliddy hell Gav, larn something ivvery day, for nigh on 50 years I`ve thowt that it was mullteapull awganisms i was hevin, ye bug-r it was all te de wif the drink, good here aint it?? Buff

-- Anonymous, March 23, 2000

Bill, that was priceless!!! You just made me laugh until I cried!!!!! (:o)

-- Anonymous, March 23, 2000

Moderation questions? read the FAQ