How dynamic is the continuous tinnitus percept?
W Schlee1, J Herrmann2, R Pryss2, M Reichert2, B Langguth1
1 Clinic and Policlinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy,
University Hospital Regensburg, Germany
2 Institute of Databases and Information Systems,
University of Ulm, Germany
Objective: Subjective tinnitus is defined as an auditory perception in the absence of any
physically identifiable source for it. About 5-10% of the population report a continuous
perception of the tinnitus sound –but how continuous is this perception? Is the tinnitus
constantly “on”, or are there also periods were the tinnitus is perceived less? Indeed, more
than 60% of the chronic tinnitus subjects report a variability of the tinnitus perception
between days. The heterogeneity of this variability is currently largely unexplored.
Methods: In order to measure this within-person variability of tinnitus perception, we
developed an experience sampling application running on smartphones that is able to track the
individual tinnitus perception and distress during the day under real world conditions. In the
first part of the talk, we want to present preliminary results of this study. With the second part
of the talk we want to concentrate on the variability of neuronal activity in the auditory
cortex.
Results: Chronic tinnitus is usually associated with a decrease of the alpha frequency
oscillatory power in temporal areas. Here we show, that also the moment-to-moment
variability of the alpha activity is largely reduced in chronic tinnitus. Most importantly, it can
be shown that this neuronal variability is associated with the tinnitus duration. Subjects with a
longer history of tinnitus show less alpha variability in auditory regions. Preliminary data on
the variability of the tinnitus perception will be presented.
Conclusion: We propose that the assessment of both, the neuronal variability and the
perceptual variability in chronic tinnitus are an important tool for the identification of tinnitus
subtypes.
This abstract was presented at the 11th International Tinnitus Seminar, Berlin, Germany, May
21-25, 2014
