title: Alterations in early auditory evoked potentials and brainstem transmission time associated with tinnitus residual inhibition induced by auditory electrical stimulation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Residual inhibition (RI) is the temporary inhibition of tinnitus by use of masking stimuli when the device is turned off.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The main aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of RI induced by auditory electrical stimulation (AES) in the primary auditory pathways using early auditory-evoked potentials (AEPs) in subjective idiopathic tinnitus (SIT) subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized placebo-controlled study was conducted on forty-four tinnitus subjects. All enrolled subjects based on the responses to AES, were divided into two groups of RI and Non-RI (NRI). The results of the electrocochleography (ECochG), auditory brain stem response (ABR) and brain stem transmission time (BTT) were determined and compared pre- and post-AES in the studied groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean differences in the compound action potential (CAP) amplitudes and III/V and I/V amplitude ratios were significantly different between the RI, NRI and PES controls. BTT was significantly decreased associated with RI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The observed changes in AEP associated with RI suggested some peripheral and central auditory alterations. Synchronized discharges of the auditory nerve fibers and inhibition of the abnormal activity of the cochlear nerve by AES may play important roles associated with RI. Further comprehensive studies are required to determine the mechanisms of RI more precisely.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Medical University of Hannover (MHH), Hannover, Germany. saeid.mahmoudian@gmail.com
authors.forename: Saeid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mahmoudian
authors.forename: Minoo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lenarz
authors.forename: Karl-Heinz
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Esser
authors.forename: Behrouz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Salamat
authors.forename: Farshid
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alaeddini
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dengler
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farhadi
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lenarz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001306:Auditory Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003056:Cochlear Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000502:physiology*; D010470:Perceptual Masking / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult