What is a significant vestibular effect caused by lateral medullary infarction?

The significant vestibular effect caused by lateral medullary infarction is vertigo. This type of stroke affects the posterior circulation of the brain, particularly impacting the lateral medulla oblongata. This region is crucial for processing sensory information from the vestibular system, which is responsible for maintaining balance and spatial orientation.

When a lateral medullary infarction occurs, the blood supply to the vestibular nuclei is compromised, leading to disturbances in balance and perception of motion. As a result, patients often experience vertigo, which is characterized by a sensation of spinning or movement when there is none. This symptom can be quite debilitating and is a direct result of dysfunction in the vestibular pathways.

In contrast, the other effects listed—diplopia, ataxia, and vomiting—may occur due to a range of issues affecting the central nervous system but are not as specific to the vestibular impact of lateral medullary infarction. Diplopia relates more to cranial nerve involvement, ataxia could stem from cerebellar damage or proprioceptive loss, and vomiting can be associated with increased intracranial pressure or irritation of the vestibular system but is not the hallmark symptom of this specific infarction. Overall, vertigo stands out