Robert Bárány was born in Vienna, Austria on April 22, 1876. Bárány first became interested in medicine following his development of tuberculosis. In 1900, he graduated with a medical degree from Vienna University. After graduating, Bárány became a doctor in Vienna.
During one visit from a patient, Bárány began syringing fluid into the inner ear of a patient to get rid of the patient’s vertigo and nystagmus (involuntary eye movement). At first Bárány injected fluids that were too cold. Consequently, he warmend the fluid for the patient, which caused the patient to experience nystagmus in the opposite direction.