Abstract
The study aimed at determining the EEG correlates of concentration on either low or high-distressed tinnitus. Sixty-seven patients (36 women, mean age = 50.34 ± 12.94 years) with chronic tinnitus were assigned to either a high (HD) or low (LD) tinnitus-related distress group based on THI results. All participants took part in the EEG study comprising two 3-4 min blocks of focusing on either tinnitus (Tinnitus Focus Condition, TFC) or the sensations from one's own body (Body Focus Condition, BFC). The absolute power and current density of 8 frequency bands in 7 clusters were compared between conditions and groups. The most pronounced differences were found in the HD patients in the TFC, relative to the BFC, i.e. reduced power of frontally distributed low alpha (8-10 Hz) and posterior high alpha (10-12 Hz) as well as lower current density of 8-10 Hz rhythm over the right frontal/anterior cingulate cortex and higher middle beta (15-18 Hz) density in the precuneus. The HD, relative to LD patients, in both conditions, exhibited increased low beta (12-15 Hz) power over the left middle area and greater higher beta (15-25 Hz) power in the left posterior region. The present study contrasted bioelectrical activity, acquired when concentrating on tinnitus with EEG data collected whilst patients focused on their body. Decreased alpha power and current density in the frontal/cingulate cortex when listening to bothersome tinnitus might reflect greater cortical arousal whereas increased beta power and density in the precuneus/posterior cingulate activity in this condition could be indicative for elevated tension or augmented cognitive/emotional processing of tinnitus sound. Enhanced beta rhythm in patients with high versus low tinnitus distress, observed independently of the study condition, may be due to greater self-focused attention or more active processing of sensations derived from the own body.
Highlights
Tinnitus, an auditory percept appearing in the absence of any external or internal sound source, is a serious medical and social problem affecting 10–15% of the global population [1,2]
The most pronounced differences were found in the high tinnitus-related distress (HD) patients in the Tinnitus Focus Condition (TFC), relative to the Body Focus Condition (BFC), i.e. reduced power of frontally distributed low alpha (8–10 Hz) and posterior high alpha (10–12 Hz) as well as lower current density of 8–10 Hz rhythm over the right frontal/anterior cingulate cortex and higher middle beta (15–18 Hz) density in the precuneus
Decreased alpha power and current density in the frontal/cingulate cortex when listening to bothersome tinnitus might reflect greater cortical arousal whereas increased beta power and density in the precuneus/
Summary
An auditory percept appearing in the absence of any external or internal sound source, is a serious medical and social problem affecting 10–15% of the global population [1,2]. Tinnitus varies in its perceptual characteristics (e.g. its laterality, type of sound, pitch, loudness), the distress it evokes (emotional reaction to its presence), comorbid conditions (e.g. hearing loss, hyperacusis, vertigo, affective disorder) and response to therapy [8]. The heterogeneity of tinnitus may explain why there is no one effective treatment for all patients and the outcomes of a given therapeutic intervention are highly variable. Patients might use various non-specific methods to cope with tinnitus including sound or music therapies [9,10,11], cochlear implantation [12], psychological therapies [13,14,15,16,17,18,19], brain stimulation [20,21,22], or neurofeedback training [23,24]. No effective pharmacological treatment for this condition is yet available
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