He was the eldest of six children of Maria (née Hock), the daughter of a scientist, and Ignác Bárány, born 1842 in Várpalota, Kingdom of Hungary, who was a bank official and estate manager.

The patient experienced vertigo and nystagmus (involuntary eye movement) when Bárány injected fluid that was too cold.

The research resulting from his observations made surgical treatment of vestibular organ diseases possible.

Bárány was released from the prisoner of war camp in 1916 following joint diplomatic efforts from Sweden, Denmark, Norway and The Netherlands and alongside Red Cross.

[5] That work was largely driven by the professor of otorhinolaryngology, Gunnar Holmgren,[6] with diplomatic contributions by prince Carl.

In response to his receiving the prize, Sigmund Freud wrote : "The granting of the Nobel Prize to Bárány, whom I refused to take as a pupil some years ago because he seemed to be too abnormal, has aroused sad thoughts about how helpless an individual is about gaining the respect of the crowd.