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Modulation of Auditory Cortex Activity in Salicylate-Induced Tinnitus Rats via Deep Brain Stimulation of the Inferior
Zeinab Akbarnejad1, Kasra Bagherian1, Seyed Ali Noorbakhsh2
1ENT and Head and Neck Research Center and Department, The Five Senses Health Institute, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Brain and Behavior
|September 2, 2025
Summary
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the external cortex of the inferior colliculus (ECIC) reduced hyperactivity in the primary auditory cortex (A1) in a rat tinnitus model. This suggests ECIC stimulation may be a viable therapeutic target for tinnitus.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Auditory Neuroscience
- Computational Neuroscience
Background:
- Tinnitus is linked to maladaptive plasticity from reduced sensory input.
- Deep brain stimulation (DBS) shows potential for tinnitus, but its neural effects are unclear.
- This study investigates DBS effects on auditory cortex activity in a tinnitus model.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate spontaneous firing rates (SFRs) in the primary auditory cortex (A1) before and after DBS.
- To assess the impact of ECIC DBS on A1 neuronal activity in a rat model of tinnitus.
Main Methods:
- Tinnitus was induced using sodium salicylate in rats; controls received saline.
- Tinnitus and hearing were assessed via gap pre-pulse inhibition of the acoustic startle (GPIAS) and pre-pulse inhibition (PPI) tests.
- Single unit recordings from A1 were performed before and after ECIC DBS.
Main Results:
- Rats with tinnitus showed higher A1 spontaneous activity compared to controls.
- ECIC DBS significantly decreased A1 hyperactivity in tinnitus rats, normalizing activity.
- Inter-spike interval analysis indicated reduced short intervals after DBS, similar to controls.
Conclusions:
- ECIC stimulation effectively modulates A1 hyperactivity, implicating it in tinnitus.
- Findings support further research into ECIC's role in tinnitus regulation.
- This could lead to new therapeutic strategies and improved computational models.
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