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High-definition transcranial direct current stimulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex for tinnitus modulation: a preliminary trial

  • Translational Neurosciences - Original Article
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Abstract

Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the absence of its external source. Non-invasive neuromodulation techniques have been used in the past decade to investigate the impact of stimulation on tinnitus perception. The objective is to invest the impact of high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) stimulation on tinnitus loudness and annoyance. Thirteen participants underwent two sessions of HD-tDCS (real and sham) in a double blind, sham controlled, randomized trial. The washout period between the real and sham stimulation session was 1 week. Tinnitus loudness and annoyance was measured using a ten-point tinnitus loudness/annoyance numeric rating scale at the baseline, after 5, 10, 15 and 20 min of stimulation. There was a significant reduction in the tinnitus loudness after the HD-tDCS of DLPFC. A comparison of the different time points (5, 10, 15 and 20 min) with the baseline measurement for tinnitus loudness showed a statistically significant reduction after 15 min (t = 1.82, p = 0.047) and 20 min (t = 1.82, p = 0.047) of stimulation using the real HD-tDCS; this effect was not observed for tinnitus annoyance. HD-tDCS of DLPFC is a safe technique for tinnitus modulation. The most common transient sensations experienced during HD-tDCS were tingling, sleepiness and scalp pain. HD-tDCS of DLPFC resulted in transient tinnitus loudness suppression after 15 min of stimulation. We propose the optimum stimulation duration for HD-tDCS of DLPFC for tinnitus suppression to be 15 min instead of 20 min.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Audiology and Health Systems, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

    Giriraj Singh Shekhawat

  2. Center for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

    Giriraj Singh Shekhawat

  3. Tinnitus Research Initiative, Regensburg, Germany

    Giriraj Singh Shekhawat

  4. Lab for integrative and Clinical Neuroscience, School for Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W. Campbell Rd., Richardson, TX, 75082, USA

    Sven Vanneste

  5. Center for Brain Health, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA

    Sven Vanneste

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  1. Giriraj Singh Shekhawat
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Correspondence to Giriraj Singh Shekhawat or Sven Vanneste.

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Shekhawat, G.S., Vanneste, S. High-definition transcranial direct current stimulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex for tinnitus modulation: a preliminary trial. J Neural Transm 125, 163–171 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-017-1808-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-017-1808-6

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