The neuroscience of tinnitus.
Tinnitus is an auditory phantom sensation (ringing of the ears) experienced when no external sound is present. Most but not all cases are associated with hearing loss induced by noise exposure or aging. Neuroscience research has begun to reveal how tinnitus is generated by the brain when hearing loss occurs, and to suggest new avenues for management and prevention of tinnitus following hearing injuries. Downregulation of intracortical inhibition induced by damage to the cochlea or to auditory projection pathways highlights neural processes that underlie the sensation of phantom sound.
Eggermont
Jos J
JJ
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, and Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4. eggermon@ucalgary.ca
Roberts
Larry E
LE
D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology*; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy