Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 3, 2026

A Protocol for the Administration of Real-Time fMRI Neurofeedback Training
Published on: August 24, 2017
Pathophysiology and treatment of tinnitus: an elusive disease
1Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW Australia ; Medical Teaching and Administration Unit, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Missenden Road, Camperdown, NSW 2050 Australia.
Abstract:
Tinnitus is a perception of sound in proximity to the head with the absence of an external source. It is estimated to occur in 15-20% of the world's population, with 1-3% of cases severely affecting quality of life. Severe tinnitus is frequently associated with depression, anxiety and insomnia. Tinnitus has been associated with a variety of risk factors, including prolonged noise exposure, head and neck injury and infection. The most recent pathophysiologic theory of tinnitus suggests that the central nervous system is the source or "generator" of this condition. However, treatment modalities are still aimed at lessening the awareness of tinnitus and its impact on quality of life rather than attaining a definitive cure. Currently, no drug is available that has demonstrated replicable, long-term reduction of tinnitus impact in excess of placebo effects. However, the market value of such an agent is estimated to be $1.1 billion, with a potential for increase with an aging and longer-living population. This review assesses the current developments in the pathophysiology and treatment for tinnitus, which remains a chronic and debilitating condition.
Related Concept Videos
Taste Buds and Receptors
Hearing
Anatomy of the Ear
Perceiving Loudness, Pitch, and Location
Place theory, or place coding, suggests that different pitches are heard because various sound waves activate specific locations along the cochlea's basilar membrane. The brain determines the pitch of a sound by...
Auditory Pathway
When viewed cross-sectionally, the cochlea reveals the scala vestibuli and scala tympani flanking...
COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...

