Tinnitus research
Researchers Dr. Michael Kilgard and Dr. Navzer Engineer from The University of Texas at Dallas in cooperation with a company called MicroTransponder report that sounds paired with stimulation of the vagus nerve eliminated tinnitus in rats. A clinical trial in humans is due to begin in the next few months.
The method works by stimulating a nerve in the neck, with a small electric current 300 times per day. Simultaneously with the electrical pulse, sounds close to the tinnitus frequency are played but avoid the actual tinnitus frequency. The process lasted for three weeks.
The effect remained even at a control after 3.5 months. According to the researchers, this is thanks to the combination therapy successfully making the nerve cells revert to the normal position they held before hearing damage occurred. Valuable new tinnitus research.
Read the full article at the Texas university site.
More info is also available on these sites:
Science Daily
Red Orbit
Nyteknik (swedish)
