Daily Bitemporal Low-frequency Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation in Tinnitus (tRNS2-tin)

Effectiveness of Daily Bitemporal Low-frequency Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation in Patients With Chronic Tinnitus

Stimulation of the left and right auditory cortex with daily low-frequency transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) is used to modulate the neural pathways involved in chronic tinnitus.

Tinnitus is the phantom auditory perception of sound in the absence of an external or internal acoustic stimulus. It is a frequent problem which can interfere significantly with the ability to lead a normal life. Tinnitus has been shown to be generated in the brain, as a result of functional reorganization of auditory neural pathways and the central auditory system. These changes are represented by hyper-activity and hyper-synchronicity in the auditory pathway. Treatment remains difficult. Non-invasive brain stimulation methods has shown to be effective in the treatment of chronic tinnitus with moderate effect size. First data suggest the use of transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) over both auditory cortices as new and highly effective treatment. Low-frequency (lf; <100Hz) tRNS might be highly effective in tackling hyper-synchronised cell assemblies. Daily lf-tRNS (2 weeks) will be examined with regard to feasibility, safety and clinical efficacy in patients suffering from chronic tinnitus in an one-arm pilot trial.

Inclusion criteria:

• diagnosis of bothersome, subjective chronic tinnitus
• diagnosis: duration of tinnitus more than 6 months

Exclusion criteria:

• objective tinnitus
• irregular head shap below the electrodes
• eczema on the head
• treatable cause of the tinnitus
• involvement in other treatments for tinnitus at the same time
• clinically relevant psychiatric comorbidity
• clinically relevant unstable internal or neurological comorbidity
• history of or evidence of significant brain malformation or neoplasm, head injury
• cerebral vascular events
• neurodegenerative disorder affecting the brain or prior brain surgery
• metal objects in and around body that can not be removed
• pregnancy
• alcohol or drug abuse