When we think about falling, why does our body feel like we’re falling sometimes?

Question

This happens to me occasionally in bed. I think about falling and my body gives a sort of response to it by making me actually feel like I’m falling. How does this happen?

In: Biology

Answer 1

For the same reason that thinking about a salty cracker can make one salivate. The body takes cues from mental processes about matters real and imagined.