Body & Senses
How do I keep my balance?
A line on the ground becomes a little Wusel discovery.
The short answer
The brain combines information from eyes, inner ears and the body about position and movement. It uses that information to guide adjustments. Balance therefore does not come from the eyes alone.
An imagined Wusel scene
Puschel and Flauschi investigate
Flauschi has drawn a short chalk line on a level, dry path. With his eyes open, Puschel takes a little step along it.
Puschel“My paws are finding the way. Who helps them?”
Flauschi“In people, lots of information works together. The eyes and balance organs deep inside the ears help too.”
Puschel stops and comfortably places both feet side by side. Puschel“So ears discover more than sounds!”
Now Flauschi takes a step. Puschel stays beside her without pulling. They can stop whenever they want; the line will not run away.
Little Wusel quiz
Are balance organs in the visible earlobe?
Choose one answer: a), b).
- a)No, in the inner part of the ear
- b)Yes, in the earlobe
Show answer
Correct answer: a): No, in the inner part of the ear They lie deep in the inner part of the ear.
Is balance only a job for the feet?
Show answer
No. The brain processes information from the eyes, inner part of the ear, muscles and nerves that report touch, among other sources.
Word help
- cell
- A tiny living unit. Living things are made of cells.
- nerve
- A bundle of fibres that carry signals through the body.
- joint
- A connection between bones. Many joints allow movement.
Explore in more detail
Here you will find longer explanations and further details. You can explore them together.
Understand step by step
How it works – simply explained
Several messages arrive
Eyes show the surroundings. Sensory cells in muscles and joints report body position. Balance organs in the inner ear report head movement and orientation.
The brain compares
It combines these different messages. No single sense supplies everything. Moving in the dark can therefore feel harder even though your legs have not changed.
Posture is adjusted
The brain controls muscles that stabilise the body. Small changes may help. People find this differently easy; you do not need to pass a risky balance challenge.
Several messages about one movement
When sitting at a table and gently turning your head, the brain receives several clues. Eyes show the surroundings, inner ears report head movement, and muscles and joints report body position. The brain combines them. People use these clues differently and may need support. A risky balance challenge would not explain this better.
References for this explanation: [1]
The key points again
Discovery 1
For balance, the brain processes information from several sources: the eyes, the inner part of the ear, and muscles and nerves that report touch in the body.
Source: [1]
Discovery 2
Balance organs lie in the inner part of the ear. They provide information about movement and the position of the head. They are different from the ears we can see on the outside.
Source: [1]
Discovery 3
The brain combines this information and helps adjust the position of the body. Balance is teamwork, rather than a job for only the eyes or only the feet.
Source: [1]