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Tinnitus Perception and Distress Is Related to Abnormal Spontaneous Brain Activity as Measured by Magnetoencephalography
- Source :
- PLoS Medicine, PLoS Medicine, Vol 2, Iss 6, p e153 (2005)
- Publication Year :
- 2005
- Publisher :
- Public Library of Science (PLoS), 2005.
-
Abstract
- Background The neurophysiological mechanisms underlying tinnitus perception are not well understood. Surprisingly, there have been no group studies comparing abnormalities in ongoing, spontaneous neuronal activity in individuals with and without tinnitus perception. Methods and Findings Here, we show that the spontaneous neuronal activity of a group of individuals with tinnitus (n = 17) is characterised by a marked reduction in alpha (8–12 Hz) power together with an enhancement in delta (1.5–4 Hz) as compared to a normal hearing control group (n = 16). This pattern was especially pronounced for temporal regions. Moreover, correlations with tinnitus-related distress revealed strong associations with this abnormal spontaneous activity pattern, particularly in right temporal and left frontal areas. Overall, effects were stronger for the alpha than for the delta frequency band. A data stream of 5 min, recorded with a whole-head neuromagnetometer under a resting condition, was sufficient to extract the marked differences. Conclusions Despite some limitations, there are arguments that the regional pattern of abnormal spontaneous activity we found could reflect a tinnitus-related cortical network. This finding, which suggests that a neurofeedback approach could reduce the adverse effects of this disturbing condition, could have important implications for the treatment of tinnitus.<br />Regional patterns of abnormal brain activity identified in people with tinnitus suggest the presence of a tinnitus- related cortical network that it may be possible to modify by neurofeedback.
- Subjects :
- Male
medicine.medical_specialty
Brain activity and meditation
Thalamocortical dysrhythmia
Alpha (ethology)
Electroencephalography
Audiology
Non-rapid eye movement sleep
Tinnitus
Otolaryngology
ddc:150
Reference Values
Surveys and Questionnaires
otorhinolaryngologic diseases
medicine
Humans
Psychology
Premovement neuronal activity
Hearing Loss, High-Frequency
Analysis of Variance
medicine.diagnostic_test
business.industry
Brain
Magnetoencephalography
General Medicine
Middle Aged
Neurology
Case-Control Studies
Auditory Perception
Medicine
Female
medicine.symptom
business
Stress, Psychological
Otolaryngology/ENT
Research Article
Neuroscience
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 15491676
- Volume :
- 2
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- PLoS Medicine
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....fd87a391fa6cb8c6331c020c9fd71f03