The Great Balancing Act

Sharon’s The Great Balancing Act is an enlightening and engaging exploration of the human vestibular system—an essential yet often overlooked component of our daily lives. Sharon instills a sense of wonder about the intricate anatomy and function of this system, making it clear why he is a true vestibular enthusiast. With its compelling narrative, rich historical context, and scientifically rigorous yet accessible explanations, The Great Balancing Act is a must-read. – Cynthia Ryan, executive director, Vestibular Disorders AssociationSharon has written a thoughtful, engaging, and highly informative book on the vestibular system. He has achieved a brilliant balance between providing a high-level overview and an understandable description of the physiology of the system and the pathologies affecting its function. This book will be of interest and importance to all who desire an overview of the vestibular system as well as to patients who suffer from vestibular disorders. – Lloyd Minor, Carl and Elizabeth Naumann Dean of the School of Medicine, vice president for medical affairs, Stanford UniversityHow does the vestibular system integrate a barrage of sensory information to enable animals to navigate the world? In ‘The Great Balancing Act,’ Jeffrey Sharon addresses these and other questions about this elegant sensory system that helps regulate proprioception and spatial reasoning. Sharon discusses how the vestibular system evolved and how it interacts with brain areas that process vision, abstract thought and memory. He ends the book on a forward-looking note, explaining how insights from basic neuroscience are propelling exciting advances in prosthetic implants and gene therapies to help rebuild cellular structures in diseased vestibular systems. * The Transmitter *

Jeffrey D. Sharon is the director of the Balance and Falls Center and an associate professor in the Otology, Neurotology, and Skull Base Surgery Division at the University of California, San Francisco.