ATA-FUNDED RESEARCH
New ATA-Funded Research ATA received numerous high-quality proposals from top researchers from across the globe for its fiscal
By Daniel Born, ATA Director of Research and Special Projects
Berthold Langguth, M.D., Ph.D. University of Regensburg
Project: Combined Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Treatment of Chronic Tinnitus Using Double Cone Coil
Roadmap to a Cure Paths: C,D Funded: $50,000, 1-year project Type: Human research study
Dr. Langguth: “It is well known that tinnitus is related to increased activ- ity in central auditory pathways. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimula- tion (rTMS) is an innovative method for locally modulating brain activity. With the idea to down-regulate increased activity in the auditory cortex, rTMS has been introduced as a new treatment for tinnitus. Reduction of tinnitus by rTMS has been demonstrated in many studies, unfortunately the overall benefits from this treatment are only relatively small.
In the last few years additional brain areas have been identified, which are strongly connected with the auditory cortex in tinnitus patients. These neural networks reflect the adverse emotional reaction (i.e., the suffering caused by the sound perception) and the conscious perception of tinnitus. With the aim to attack tinnitus more efficiently we propose a new stimulation protocol using a newly developed TMS coil. The specific form of this coil allows a deeper penetration depth of the magnetic field in the brain and offers the possibility to directly modulate deeper brain structures which are known to be involved in generating feelings of suf- fering. This proposal addresses Roadmap Paths C and D and will hope- fully lead to a new effective form of treatment for tinnitus patients.”
Jennifer Melcher, Ph.D. Massachusetts Eye & Ear, Harvard Medical School
Project: Brain Function and Attention in Tinnitus Roadmap to a Cure Paths: A,B Funded: $49,983, 1st year of 2-year project Type: Human research study
Dr. Melcher: “There are multiple aspects of attention controlled by different parts of the brain. For instance, we sometimes pay ‘selective’ attention to a particular thing – someone’s voice, for instance – or one’s tinnitus. The focus of attention can sometimes be controlled voluntarily or it can be involuntarily captured, for instance by someone calling your name or, again, by tinnitus. This project begins to examine whether the brain processes of selective and involuntary attention are different in people with tinnitus and if so, how. There are already researchers working on tinnitus therapies that involve attention-training exercises. Our hope is that this project shows ways to improve on these therapies, perhaps by showing which aspects of attention need shoring up. The research
seeks to understand brain processes underlying the condition of tinnitus and thus intersects paths A and B in the ATA Roadmap. By working directly in people with tinnitus and on an aspect of tinnitus that is being targeted by therapies, this project also has a clear eye toward path C.”
Josef Rauschecker, Ph.D. Georgetown University Medical Center
Project: Tonotopic Map Reorganization and the Effects of Frequency Discrimination Treatment in Tinnitus
Roadmap to a Cure Paths: A,C,D Funded: $50,000, 1st year of 2-year project Type: Human research study
Dr. Rauschecker: “The research project overlaps with Paths A, C, and D of the Roadmap. It addresses the question of whether tonotopic map distortions occur in all cases of hearing loss, or only in tinnitus patients. While tonotopic map distortions are a proposed source of the tinnitus signal, to date there is no direct evidence that such distortions occur exclusively in tinnitus (Path A: Identification of Generators). Second, the project investigates the efficacy and neural sites of action for acoustic- behavioral therapy, which has shown some success in alleviating tinnitus. Our proposed treatment variation (specifically targeting low frequencies) has never been tested and can therefore be considered ‘Development of Therapy’ (Path C). Finally, the combination of pre/post- treatment fMRI and treatment success measures will identify the neural sites of successful treatment, and will thus serve as a guide for further refinement of the treatment (Path D).”
Sarah Hayes State University of New York at Buffalo
Student Research Project: Contribution of Stress to Tinnitus Generation: Role of GABAergic Inhibition Roadmap to a Cure Path: B Funded: 1-year student grant, $10,000 Type: Animal research study
Ms. Hayes and mentor Richard Salvi, Ph.D.: “This proposal addresses Path B of ATA’s Roadmap to a Cure (Elucidation of Mechanisms of Tinnitus Generation). The goal of the experiments is to better understand how factors such as stress contribute to tinnitus generation by altering GABAergic inhibition along the auditory pathway. A better understanding of how stress-induced changes in GABAergic inhibition can contribute to tinnitus generation, can lead to future development of therapies to prevent and treat tinnitus (Path C, Development of Therapy).”
Summer 2012 | Tinnitus Today 15
year 2011 annual funding cycle. In March, ATA’s Scientific Advisory Committee met and discussed the grants they deemed innovative and worthy of support by ATA. Their votes and careful evaluations were forwarded to ATA’s Board of Directors for the final funding decision, and the following projects were approved. Learn about and view the Roadmap anytime at
ATA.org/research/roadmap-cure.
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