NCT01965028

Daily Bi-temporal Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation in Tinnitus

Effectiveness of Daily Bi-temporal Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation in Patients With Chronic Tinnitus

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 30 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Regensburg · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 70 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

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

Detailed description

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. Preliminary data presented on international conferences suggest the use of transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) over both auditory cortices as new and highly effective treatment. High-frequency (hf; 100-650Hz) tRNS might be highly effective in tackling hyper-synchronised cell assemblies. Daily Hf-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.

Conditions

• Chronic Tinnitus

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS)	High frequency tRNS (Neuroconn, Eldith DC-Stimulator Plus): 100-650Hz, 2mA, 20min, 10s ramp time, left and right auditory cortex, 5x7cm electrode with the inferior middle part over T3/T4 Arms: tRNS

Timeline

• Start date: 2013-10-01
• Primary completion: 2016-01-01
• Completion: 2016-01-01
• First posted: 2013-10-18
• Last updated: 2016-03-07

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Germany