rTMS Induced Tinnitus Relief Is Related to an Increase in Auditory Cortical Alpha Activity
Müller N, Lorenz I, Langguth B, Weisz N (2013)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2013
Journal
Book Volume: 8
Article Number: e55557
Journal Issue: 2
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0055557
Abstract
Chronic tinnitus, the continuous perception of a phantom sound, is a highly prevalent audiological symptom. A promising approach for the treatment of tinnitus is repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) as this directly affects tinnitus-related brain activity. Several studies indeed show tinnitus relief after rTMS, however effects are moderate and vary strongly across patients. This may be due to a lack of knowledge regarding how rTMS affects oscillatory activity in tinnitus sufferers and which modulations are associated with tinnitus relief. In the present study we examined the effects of five different stimulation protocols (including sham) by measuring tinnitus loudness and tinnitus-related brain activity with Magnetoencephalography before and after rTMS. Changes in oscillatory activity were analysed for the stimulated auditory cortex as well as for the entire brain regarding certain frequency bands of interest (delta, theta, alpha, gamma). In line with the literature the effects of rTMS on tinnitus loudness varied strongly across patients. This variability was also reflected in the rTMS effects on oscillatory activity. Importantly, strong reductions in tinnitus loudness were associated with increases in alpha power in the stimulated auditory cortex, while an unspecific decrease in gamma and alpha power, particularly in left frontal regions, was linked to an increase in tinnitus loudness. The identification of alpha power increase as main correlate for tinnitus reduction sheds further light on the pathophysiology of tinnitus. This will hopefully stimulate the development of more effective therapy approaches. © 2013 Müller et al.
Authors with CRIS profile
Involved external institutions
Universität Konstanz
Germany (DE)
Università degli Studi di Trento
Italy (IT)
Universitätsklinikum Regensburg
Germany (DE)
Germany (DE)
Università degli Studi di Trento
Italy (IT)
Universitätsklinikum Regensburg
Germany (DE)
How to cite
APA:
Müller, N., Lorenz, I., Langguth, B., & Weisz, N. (2013). rTMS Induced Tinnitus Relief Is Related to an Increase in Auditory Cortical Alpha Activity. PLoS ONE, 8(2). https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0055557
MLA:
Müller, Nadia, et al. "rTMS Induced Tinnitus Relief Is Related to an Increase in Auditory Cortical Alpha Activity." PLoS ONE 8.2 (2013).
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