See this first-person virtual reality view of vertigo

See how a type of movement called the Epley maneuver can resolve one type of vertigo

BPPV, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, occurs when a calcium crystal breaks off and is floating around in the inner ear. This video describes how someone suffering from this type of vertigo can determine if this is an issue and how treatment involves a movement called the Epley maneuver.

Vertigo may be reduced by retraining your brain with visual fixation

In this video podcast neuroscientist Andrew Huberman describes one way to help alleviate dizziness and motion sickness symptoms. He suggests visual anchoring—fixating your vision on a point several feet away and moving closer to it, if possible, or fixating your vision on your extended finger and slowly moving it toward your nose and away again.

Vertigo is considered a subtype of dizziness

This two-minute video explains vertigo—a subtype of dizziness—and its many potential causes. It explores the vestibular system, the inner ear system, which typically governs our sense of stability, and details its anatomy.

Peripheral vertigo is a type of dizziness caused by disturbances the inner ear

This type of vertigo can be triggered by several factors including viruses that cause inflammation in the inner ear, Ménière's disease, or benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, which can cause irregular nerve impulses that cause dizziness.

A BPPV patient describes how a neck massage fueled crippling vertigo

The pressure, she says, dislodged tiny crystals in her inner ear that are crucial to balance. The condition is called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or BPPV.

Vestibular Paroxysmia is often overlooked as a vertigo-causing diagnosis

VP causes brief, recurrent episodes of vertigo. It's often mistaken for the more common "benign paroxysmal positional vertigo," but its vertigo episodes are typically shorter and triggered by specific head movements. The condition is caused by compression of the eighth cranial nerve. Other symptoms that accompany it are nausea and unsteadiness and, more rarely, tinnitus and hearing changes.

Vertigo is a mismatch of information between the eyes and the ears

Both vertigo and motion sickness can be caused by mismatches between visual and auditory inputs.The brain relies on inputs from the eyes, inner ear, and receptors in muscles and joints to orient the body. When the eyes suggest movement but other signals suggest the body is stationary dizziness and nausea can occur.

Studying involuntary, rapid eye movements is a key part of vertigo diagnosis

A doctor will look at a vertigo patient's rapid, uncontrollable eye movements—formally called nystagmus—to better understand its causes. When a patient is lying down with their head turned and their eyes spin in a certain position and stop it's likely a peripheral cause, but if the spinning doesn't stop or it changes direction it's more likely a central nervous system issue.

BPPV occurs when tiny calcium particles called otoconia become dislodged

WIth this condition, formally known as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, calcium particles that normally help the brain interpret head movement and position migrate for unknown reasons into the ear's semicircular canals, sending irregular nerve impulses to the brain, which cause intense vertigo episodes.

Vertigo can last for minutes—or months—and may occur periodically

Vertigo can be caused by a variety of conditions, including as a side effect of medication, but if it comes on suddenly and is accompanied by other symptoms including difficulty with speech or weakness on one side of the body it's important to go to the emergency room to get checked for a stroke. For recurring vertigo, care teams can teach patients exercises to limit panic, lessen nausea and teach the brain to better tolerate head movements.

Dizziness may describe lightheadedness and imbalance, not the spinning of vertigo

Dizziness is defined as an altered sense of spatial orientation, and may include feeling like you might fall over. Vertigo is associated with feeling like you are spinning or your surroundings are spinning.

The word 'vertigo' derives from the Latin 'vertere,' meaning to turn

Beyond the word's origin, this article makes clear that fuzzy definitions of the disorder make it confusing for patients to describe it.

Central vestibular disease is another common cause of vertigo

Unlike peripheral vestibular disease that is caused by factors like inflammation in the inner ear, central vestibular disease involves dysfunction of one or more parts of the central nervous system. Vertigo of this type may last for seconds, hours, or even days. It's typically caused by issues with the brain stem and cerebellum and could be caused by stroke, tumor, and vestibular migraine, among other conditions.

Pets can experience vertigo, particularly older dogs

This type of dizziness is often caused by disorders of the vestibular system, and in dogs is often referred to as "old dog vestibular disease" because it tends to occur in older animals. The condition tends to resolve on its own in days or weeks. Vertigo is less common among cats than dogs, and in felines is typically caused by inner ear infections or other causes including a tumor.

Vertigo is two to three times more common in women than men

Dizziness, including vertigo, occurs among 15% to 20% of adults. Vertigo can have numerous causes, but generally it's more common with age. It's also much more common among women than in men—occuring roughly two to three times more frequently, sometimes potentially related to the hormonal fluctuations of menopause or to migraines.

20% of patients with migraines may also experience vertigo

Vestibular migraine is a common cause of vertigo, affecting approximately 20% of patients with migraine. It's the most common cause of recurrent, sudden-onset vertigo.

Wish you could experience life on the Western Front of WWI?

Virtual reality offers a new perspective on World War I in this nearly 14-minute video. National WWI Museum and Memorial Public Program Specialist James Taub demonstrates the War Remains VR experience side by side with what he sees through the headset. A grim and detailed simulation of trench warfare combined with Taub's observations and insights.

Ménière's disease is a long-term, inner ear disorder that causes vertigo

This severe vertigo-causing disorder may involve long and recurrent episodes of vertigo. Symptoms of this disease include balance issues and hearing loss, tinnitus, and a feeling of fullness in the ear. It typically affects only one ear and is linked to a buildup of excess fluid in the inner ear.

Engineer explains VR at five levels of complexity

While its possible to grab a virtual reality headset and hop into an immersive world with little effort, a significant amount of technical and biological science has gone into creating the effect of a 3D world. This video breaks down the technology in five layers of increasing complexity.

Longer-duration space missions may amplify astronaut motion sickness

NASA is using the Kraken, a 50-foot-long, 100-ton US Navy research device, to simulate space motion sickness and vertigo and test possible recovery strategies, including testing out different, specific head movements. The Kraken, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, can rotate participants at exposures of up to 3G.

Experience the Apollo 11 mission in VR

Take one small step today and experience the historic moon-landing through VR. This video showcases how VR is allowing the public to travel through space through the eyes of those who lived through it.

What is a migraine attack like?

Are you one of the lucky people who've never experienced a migraine? Take the neurological condition for a whirl in this virtual experience sponsored by Excedrin, a pain relief medication brand. This 360º video is less than two minutes long and shows a snippet of an oncoming migraine suffered by a pastry chef.

Eating too much salt can worsen vertigo

High salt intake can cause fluid retention in the inner ear, worsening vertigo. Slashing sodium amounts (and caffeine and alcohol consumption) are particularly recommended for those suffering from Ménière's disease to help stabilize inner ear fluid levels.

Could this pseudo-psychedelic VR experience decrease symptoms of depression?

Researchers report that virtual reality and psychedelics may be leave users with similar insights and therapeutic benefits. Try out this free psychedelic virtual reality experience to see if this holds true for you. According to the program’s creators, a study into the efficacy of this 45-minute experience indicates it may help alleviate symptoms of mild to moderate depression.

Why dizziness is still a mystery

Dizzy spells can completely upend the lives of those suddenly struggling to find their footing. Despite this severe impact, the different flavors of dizziness and their sources continue to elude medical understanding. This article follows a health...

What does the metaverse actually look like?

An emerging virtual world could change how we work, play, and do business. This five-minute video shows you what it looks like and the potential it holds.

Watch a first-person demo of Microsoft's HoloLens

The headset enables users to interact with projected objects in augmented reality by combining Windows Mixed Reality with eye- and head-tracking sensors, a hand-operated controller, and a microphone that can pick up voice commands.

Take a series of virtual tours of Biosphere 2

The videos provide a 360-degree view of the indoor rainforest, ocean ecosystem, Landscape Evolution Observatory, and underground technosphere. A Google Maps Street View option is available to explore additional biomes, with each associated with a different floor level on the bottom right.

An analysis on using VR to help train orthopedic surgeons

Virtual reality simulation provides surgical trainees with an immersive 3D experience that allows them to practice skills and operations in a safe yet realistic environment.

What is space sickness?

Mix motion sickness minus gravity with a host of other variables, and you’ve got a recipe for space adaptation syndrome. It can hit anyone, even astronauts who escaped the issue previously. This article details the history and science behind space sickness.

Watch how a mixed reality app transforms a space into a haunted house

"Hauntify" incorporates a user's physical surroundings into the gameplay. Available via the Meta Quest app store, the software utilizes the mixed reality device's cameras and sensors to map a user's environment, from which evil spirits that must be repelled appear to emerge suddenly.

After 25 people used virtual reality headsets to practice flying with virtual wings—flapping their arms—their visual cortex responded to the wings almost as if they were real arms, treating them as body parts.

A virtual reality experience of Machu Picchu

If you can’t make it to the Andes, this virtual-reality experience—created using 360-degree cameras, and 3D modeling and sound design—is the next best thing. It lets you explore all the site’s major landmarks, including the Sun Temple and the Temple of the Condor, while listening to the sound of the wind whipping through the ruins, birdsong, and audio commentaries from expert guides.

The potential of virtual reality in healthcare

Virtual reality (VR) is carving new frontiers in healthcare, from aiding in stroke recovery to training medical professionals. This article in Time Magazine highlights the innovative uses of VR in medical settings, including its potential and current limitations.

This is what happens inside your body when you're sick

This video details the biology of what happens inside the human body during illness.

Medical professionals have experimented with using mixed reality headsets

Devices like the Apple Vision Pro have helped doctors develop surgical plans for hip and knee replacements using software that provides 3D models and other tools. Virtual screens displayed by mixed reality devices can provide information related to surgical progress, a patient's vitals, and more.

The medical uses of VR

Virtual healthcare simulations are bridging the gap between traditional classroom learning and real clinical experience, improving the safety, effectiveness and efficiency of healthcare services.

We don't know why astronauts get motion sick

Between 60% and 90% of astronauts get motion sick in space—and many also get motion sick during the first few days upon return. Motion sickness on Earth does not seem to correlate with whether or not astronauts get motion sick in space, so it's not possible to predict who will get ill.

Explore these images to better understand why food poisoning makes you feel nauseous.

Explore a visually captivating, interactive animation that lets users click through anxiety-inducing scenarios, make choices, and see the repercussions.

How science explains déjà vu

Take a fun look at the science explaining the odd experience of déjà vu, which some theories suggest is actually a sign of a healthy brain.

Take a virtual tour through the White House interior

This immersive 360° tour from the White House Historical Association lets you explore key rooms and see historical details not visible during in-person visits.

View the surface of Mars from NASA's Perseverance

Simulate a visit to the red planet with the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover. This 3D interactive experience lets you explore various locations on the martian surface. See closeup images the rover has taken and view key points of interest. It's the next best thing to being there and certainly far safer!

A VR tour of Auschwitz narrated by three Holocaust survivors

Receive a tour of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum through this nearly 10-minute long virtual reality video. Get a 360° view of different sections of the former concentration and extermination camp while hearing the reminiscences of three survivors and learning more about the atrocities committed there over the course of five years.

A 1992 failed parachute test provided the hardware for the first mixed reality system

The Virtual Fixtures platform was developed to improve human dexterity by merging physical and virtual objects with haptic feedback from an upper-body exoskeleton. Tight budgeting and significant equipment needs nearly canceled the project, were it not for salvaging and repairing cameras and sensors from a smashed experimental parachute rig.

A leading expert on near-death experiences, psychiatrist Dr. Bruce Greyson, says that during his decades of research on this topic, this area of research has become far more mainstream and accepted as a rigorous area of inquiry.

A fictional glimpse into the future of AR

Hyper-Reality is a project that presents a provocative and kaleidoscopic new vision of the future, where physical and virtual realities have merged, and the city is saturated in media. Watch this six-minute video to experience the vision.

Eleven deaf men played a pivotal role in America's human spaceflight program

In the mid-20th century, 11 deaf men volunteered for a series of experiments that offered unprecedented insights into the effects of weightlessness on the human body. Most of the men had become deaf in early childhood as a result of spinal meningitis, a condition known to damage the vestibular system and make them less susceptible to motion sickness. For a decade, these men participated in extreme motion sickness situations, including living in a slowly spinning room, spending time in centrifuge pods designed to simulate hypergravity, and flying in parabolic flights sometimes referred to as the "Vomit Comet." (Some users may experience a paywall.)

Mixed reality devices can turn digital information into 3D experiences

Described as "wearing a theme park on your face," devices like Microsoft's HoloLens project images into users' eyes so that their brains believe virtual objects are actually there. The bulkiness and physical limitations of existing headsets are expected to lessen over time, mimicking the evolution of early headphones.

Researchers are studying roller coasters to improve mental health treatments

Scary rides stimulate our fight-or-flight response while simultaneously releasing feel-good endorphins like dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin. Once we realize we're in a safe space, we can enjoy the ride and even feel confident and relieved by the accomplishment of overcoming a fearful feat.