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A case of post-traumatic complex auditory hallucinosis treated with rTMS
G Cosentino1, G Giglia, A Palermo
1Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Neurocase
|January 28, 2010
Summary
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) significantly reduced continuous music hallucinations in a patient with traumatic brain injury. This treatment also decreased abnormal brain activity in the affected temporal lobe area.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Auditory hallucinations are common in schizophrenia and have been treated with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS).
- Continuous music hallucinations are a less common form of auditory hallucination, often associated with neurological conditions.
Observation:
- A patient with traumatic brain injury presented with persistent music hallucinations.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) revealed a lesion in the right temporal pole.
- Positron Emission Tomography (PET) identified hyperactivity in the posterior right temporal lobe.
Findings:
- Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) applied to the right temporal area led to a significant reduction in the patient's music hallucinations.
- Post-treatment PET scans showed decreased activity in the hyperactive right temporal lobe region.
- This suggests a correlation between reduced brain activity and hallucination abatement.
Implications:
- This case study offers preliminary evidence for rTMS as a potential treatment for music hallucinations linked to focal brain hyperactivity.
- rTMS may be a viable therapeutic option for specific neurological syndromes causing auditory disturbances.
- Further research is warranted to explore the efficacy and mechanisms of rTMS in treating similar conditions.
