Tinnitus: therapeutic use of superficial brain stimulation.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review without systematic search or quantitative data synthesis
PubMed 24112915 · doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-53497-2.00036-X
What was done
This narrative review synthesizes neuroimaging findings and clinical evidence regarding superficial brain stimulation techniques—specifically repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and implanted epidural electrodes—targeting central auditory and nonauditory networks to treat tinnitus.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical data, sample sizes, or statistical metrics. It qualitatively notes that single rTMS sessions over temporal or temporoparietal cortex transiently reduce tinnitus perception, repeated rTMS sessions provide relief lasting days to months in patient subgroups with moderate effects and high variability, tDCS reduces tinnitus in subgroups, and direct epidural electrical stimulation produces larger, longer-lasting effects.
Why it matters
It maps out the neurological rationale for targeting auditory, awareness, and distress networks with noninvasive or invasive neuromodulation in patients with refractory tinnitus.
Limits
This is a narrative review without systematic search criteria or quantitative synthesis. The abstract provides no quantitative outcomes, notes high interindividual response variability, and concludes that current evidence is insufficient to support routine clinical use.
Cited by
- supports Electrical stimulation of the auditory cortex is used as an intervention to disrupt or suppress certain forms of central tinnitus.