Neural correlates of transmeatal cochlear laser (TCL) stimulation in healthy human subjects.
Transmeatal cochlear laser (TCL) treatment has recently been proposed as a therapeutic procedure for cochlear dysfunction such as chronic cochlear tinnitus or sensorineural hearing loss. The aim of this study was to investigate whether TLC has any influence on the central nervous system using functional MRI with healthy young adults. The laser stimulation device was placed on the tympanic membrane of both ears. A laser stimulation run and a placebo run were performed in random order. The participants were unable to differentiate between verum and placebo stimulation. In the comparison of verum to placebo runs, we observed significant activations within the left superior frontal gyrus, the right middle and medial frontal gyrus, the right superior parietal lobule, the left superior occipital gyrus, the precuneus and cuneus bilaterally, the right anterior and the left and right middle and posterior cingulate gyrus and the left thalamus. This network of brain areas corresponds well to results from previous PET studies of patients with tinnitus. Though TCL seems to have a clinically measurable effect on the central nervous system the neurophysiological mechanism leading to the observed activated neuronal network remains unknown.
Siedentopf
Christian M
CM
Department of Radiology II, Division of Neuroradiology, University Hospital of Innsbruck, Medical University Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria. christian.siedentopf@fmri-easy.de
Ischebeck
Anja
A
Haala
Ilka A
IA
Mottaghy
Felix M
FM
Schikora
Detlef
D
Verius
Michael
M
Koppelstaetter
Florian
F
Buchberger
Waltraud
W
Schlager
Andreas
A
Felber
Stephan R
SR
Golaszewski
Stefan M
SM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003051:Cochlea / Q000294:innervation / Q000528:radiation effects*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007834:Lasers; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood
D010100:Oxygen