coyote: the vestibular system is a part of the brain in combination with the cochlea that comprises the labyrinth of the inner ear, which contributes to the perception of self-motion, head position and spatial orientation relative to gravity. lori: the best way i can describe it, when you're standing and you have a vestibular problem, is it's like being on a boat in the middle of a lake. when you're sitting, it's almost like when you have windshield wipers on in your car and they need to be changed because there are too many, too many streaks. coyote: researchers at the university of wisconsin-madison, led by the late neuroscientist paul bach y rita, pioneered a breakthrough therapeutic device harnessing the power of plasticity to address loss of balance. this research led to the development of the brainport balance device which converts information about body position into electrical stimulation on the tongue. skinner: when you use the brain port, it provides that information for you, so you get trained to use that information as if it were your vestibular system. doidge: what you woul