Neural correlates of human somatosensory integration in tinnitus

• Published in: Hearing research Vol. 267; no. 1-2; pp. 78 - 88
• Main Authors: Lanting, C.P., de Kleine, E., Eppinga, R.N., van Dijk, P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.08.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Brain Stem - physiology; Case-Control Studies; Cochlear Nucleus - physiology; Ear and associated structures. Auditory pathways and centers. Hearing. Vocal organ. Phonation. Sound production. Echolocation; Ear, auditive nerve, cochleovestibular tract, facial nerve: diseases, semeiology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Inferior Colliculi - physiology; Jaw - anatomy & histology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neural Pathways - physiology; Non tumoral diseases; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Psychoacoustics; Somatosensory Cortex - physiology; Tinnitus - physiopathology; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; AAC; HL; MGB; CN; ROI; Put; fMRI; SPM; TE; SII; PAC; VL; BOLD; IC; TR; BA; EPI; Cerebellum; Human; Central nervous system; Cochlear nucleus; Auditory disorder; Sound; Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; Encephalon; Hearing; Colliculus inferior; Modulation; ENT disease; Auditory pathway; Tinnitus; Neural integration
• ISSN: 0378-5955; 1878-5891; 1878-5891
• DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2010.04.006

Possible neural correlates of somatosensory modulation of tinnitus were assessed. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to investigate differences in neural activity between subjects that can modulate their tinnitus by jaw protrusion and normal hearing controls. We measured responses to bilateral sound and responses to jaw protrusion. Additionally we studied multimodal integration of somatosensory jaw protrusion and sound. The auditory system responded to both sound and jaw protrusion. Jaw responses were enhanced in the cochlear nucleus (CN) and the inferior colliculus (IC) in tinnitus patients. The responses of the auditory brain areas to jaw protrusion presumable account for the modulation of tinnitus as described by the patients. The somatosensory system responded to jaw protrusion and not to sound. These responses occurred both in subjects with tinnitus and controls. Unexpectedly, the cerebellum responded to sound in normal hearing subjects, but not in tinnitus patients. Together, these results provide a neurophysiological basis for the effect of jaw protrusion on tinnitus.