Overview
Spatial Disorientation specifically refers to the lack of orientation with regard to the position, attitude, or movement of the airplane in space. The body uses three integrated systems that work together to determine orientation and movement in space. All this information comes together in the brain and, most of the time, the three streams of information agree, giving a clear idea of where and how the body is moving. Whenever this information conflicts, spatial disorientation is the result.
| System | Description |
|---|---|
| Vestibular | Organs found in the inner ear that sense position by the way we are balanced |
| Somatosensory | Nerves in the skin, muscles, and joints that sense position by feeling ("seat of the pants") |
| Visual | Eyes, which sense position based on what is seen |