Surface-Based Functional Metrics and Auditory Cortex Characteristics in Chronic Tinnitus

Subjective tinnitus is characterized by the conscious perception of a phantom sound which is usually more prominent under silence. Resting state recordings without any auditory stimulation demonstrated a decrease of cortical alpha activity in temporal areas of subjects with an ongoing tinnitus perception. This is often interpreted as an indicator for enhanced excitability of the auditory cortex in tinnitus. In this study we want to further investigate this effect by analysing the moment-to-moment variability of the alpha activity in temporal areas. Magnetoencephalographic resting state recordings of 21 tinnitus subjects and 21 healthy controls were analysed with respect to the mean and the variability of spectral power in the alpha frequency band over temporal areas. A significant decrease of auditory alpha activity was detected for the low alpha frequency band (8–10 Hz) but not for the upper alpha band (10–12 Hz). Furthermore, we found a significant decrease of alpha variability for the tinnitus group. This result was significant for the lower alpha frequency range and not significant for the upper alpha frequencies. Tinnitus subjects with a longer history of tinnitus showed less variability of their auditory alpha activity which might be an indicator for reduced adaptability of the auditory cortex in chronic tinnitus.

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Real-time monitoring and regulating auditory cortex alpha activity in patients with chronic tinnitus

Journal of Neural Engineering ◽

10.1088/1741-2552/ab57d5 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 016032

Author(s):

Azim Malekshahi ◽

Rahim Malekshahi ◽

Manuel Czornik ◽

Jürgen Dax ◽

Stephan Wolpert ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Auditory Cortex ◽

Real Time ◽

Alpha Activity ◽

Chronic Tinnitus ◽

Real Time Monitoring

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The impact of auditory cortex activity on characterizing and treating patients with chronic tinnitus – first results from a PET study

Acta Oto-Laryngologica ◽

10.1080/03655230600895317 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 126 (sup556) ◽

pp. 84-88 ◽

Cited By ~ 87

Author(s):

Berthold Langguth ◽

Peter Eichhammer ◽

Antje Kreutzer ◽

Peter Maenner ◽

Joerg Marienhagen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Auditory Cortex ◽

Chronic Tinnitus ◽

First Results ◽

The Impact

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Long-Term Effects of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) in Patients with Chronic Tinnitus

Otolaryngology ◽

10.1016/j.otohns.2004.09.134 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 132 (4) ◽

pp. 566-569 ◽

Cited By ~ 185

Author(s):

Tobias Kleinjung ◽

Peter Eichhammer ◽

Berthold Langguth ◽

Peter Jacob ◽

Joerg Marienhagen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Treatment Outcome ◽

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Auditory Cortex ◽

Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Medical Center ◽

Chronic Tinnitus ◽

Target Area ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Cortical Hyperexcitability

OBJECTIVES: The pathophysiologic mechanisms of idiopathic tinnitus remain unclear. Recent studies demonstrated focal brain activation in the auditory cortex of patients with chronic tinnitus. Low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is able to reduce cortical hyperexcitability. STUDY DESIGN: Fusing of the individual PET-scan with the structural MRI-scan (T1, MPRAGE) allowed us to identify exactly the area of increased metabolic activity in the auditory cortex of patients with chronic tinnitus. With the use of a neuronavigational system, this target area was exactly stimulated by the figure 8-shaped magnetic coil. In a prospective study, rTMS (110% motor threshold; 1 Hz; 2000 stimuli/day over 5 days) was performed using a placebo controlled cross-over design. Patients were blinded regarding the stimulus condition. For the sham stimulation a specific sham-coil system was used. Fourteen patients were followed for 6 months. Treatment outcome was assessed with a specific tinnitus questionnaire (Goebel and Hiller). SETTING: Tertiary referral medical center. RESULTS: Increased metabolic activation in the auditory cortex was verified in all patients. After 5 days of verum rTMS, a highly significant improvement of the tinnitus score was found whereas the sham treatment did not show any significant changes. The treatment outcome after 6 months still demonstrated significant reduction of tinnitus score. CONCLUSION: These preliminary results demonstrate that neuronavigated rTMS offers new possibilities in the understanding and treatment of chronic tinnitus.

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Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy to Probe State- and Trait-Like Conditions in Chronic Tinnitus: A Proof-of-Principle Study

Neural Plasticity ◽

10.1155/2014/894203 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Martin Schecklmann ◽

Anette Giani ◽

Sara Tupak ◽

Berthold Langguth ◽

Vincent Raab ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Infrared Spectroscopy ◽

Auditory Cortex ◽

Near Infrared Spectroscopy ◽

Near Infrared ◽

Brain Activity ◽

Chronic Tinnitus ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Brain Oxygenation ◽

Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy ◽

Proof Of Principle

Objective. Several neuroscience tools showed the involvement of auditory cortex in chronic tinnitus. In this proof-of-principle study we probed the capability of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) for the measurement of brain oxygenation in auditory cortex in dependence from chronic tinnitus and from intervention with transcranial magnetic stimulation.Methods. Twenty-three patients received continuous theta burst stimulation over the left primary auditory cortex in a randomized sham-controlled neuronavigated trial (verum = 12; placebo = 11). Before and after treatment, sound-evoked brain oxygenation in temporal areas was measured with fNIRS. Brain oxygenation was measured once in healthy controls(n=12).Results. Sound-evoked activity in right temporal areas was increased in the patients in contrast to healthy controls. Left-sided temporal activity under the stimulated area changed over the course of the trial; high baseline oxygenation was reduced and vice versa.Conclusions. By demonstrating that rTMS interacts with auditory evoked brain activity, our results confirm earlier electrophysiological findings and indicate the sensitivity of fNIRS for detecting rTMS induced changes in brain activity. Moreover, our findings of trait- and state-related oxygenation changes indicate the potential of fNIRS for the investigation of tinnitus pathophysiology and treatment response.

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