Coriolis

A type of disorientation evoked by head movements, leading to cross-coupled stimulation of the semicircular canals and causing an abnormal tumbling sensation. When more than one pair of semicircular canals in the human ear are simultaneously stimulated, conflicting information reaches the brain. For example, if a pilot suddenly looks down in a turn, the horizontal inputs are neither equal nor complementary because they are disposed in different planes and are stimulated by different stimuli—one by aircraft movement and the other by head movement. This leads to a conflict between impulses, causing the sensation of tumbling in space, vertigo, and nausea. To counter this feeling of tumbling, a pilot may pull up and consequently stall. The situation can be overcome by raising the head slowly and orienting oneself with the help of a natural or artificial horizon.