Which of the following is NOT a somatogyral illusion?

Which of the following is NOT a somatogyral illusion?

• A. Leans
• B. Graveyard Spin
• C. Coriolis
• D. Elevator

Answer: (D)

Somatogyral illusions come from angular accelerations detected by the semicircular canals, causing misperceptions of rotation or tilt during flight. Leans is when a banked attitude is misread as level due to canal adaptation after returning to wings-level; Graveyard Spin is the illusory rotation experienced when coming out of a prolonged turn; Coriolis illusion occurs if you move your head in a turn, stimulating a second canal and creating a sensation of rotation in a different plane. Elevator illusion, by contrast, is produced by linear vertical acceleration affecting the otolith organs (utricle and saccule), leading to a perceived pitch up or down during takeoff or deceleration. Because it stems from linear acceleration rather than angular canal input, elevator is not a somatogyral illusion.

Somatogyral illusions come from angular accelerations detected by the semicircular canals, causing misperceptions of rotation or tilt during flight. Leans is when a banked attitude is misread as level due to canal adaptation after returning to wings-level; Graveyard Spin is the illusory rotation experienced when coming out of a prolonged turn; Coriolis illusion occurs if you move your head in a turn, stimulating a second canal and creating a sensation of rotation in a different plane. Elevator illusion, by contrast, is produced by linear vertical acceleration affecting the otolith organs (utricle and saccule), leading to a perceived pitch up or down during takeoff or deceleration. Because it stems from linear acceleration rather than angular canal input, elevator is not a somatogyral illusion.