Scientists have discovered differences in the brain structure of ballet dancers, that may help them avoid feeling dizzy when they perform pirouettes. The findings could help to improve treatment for patients with chronic dizziness.

Researchers at Imperial College London recruited 29 female ballet dancers and 20 female rowers whose age and fitness levels matched the dancers. The volunteers were spun around in a chair, and were asked to turn a handle in time with how quickly they felt like they were still spinning after they had stopped.

The researchers also measured eye reflexes triggered by input from the vestibular organs. Later, they examined the participants' brain structure with MRI scans. The result showed that in dancers, both the eye reflexes and their perception of spinning lasted a shorter time than in the rowers.

The brain scans also revealed differences in two parts of the brain: an area in the cerebellum where sensory input from the vestibular organs is processed and in the cerebral cortex, which is responsible for the perception of dizziness.

In a paper published in the journal Cerebral Cortex, the researchers suggested that years of training can enable dancers to suppress signals from the balance organs in the inner ear.

"Ballet dancers seem to be able to train themselves not to get dizzy, so we wondered whether we could use the same principles to help our patients,"said Dr Barry Seemungal from the Department of Medicine at Imperial.

"If we can target that same brain area or monitor it in patients with chronic dizziness, we can begin to understand how to treat them better,"said Dr Seemungal. Endi

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