Cortical Representations of Auditory Phantom Perception (Tinnitus)

Tinnitus has originally been seen as a disturbance of the peripheral auditory system. In view of the fact that tinnitus can persist even after surgical transection of the cochlear nerve, the hypothesis evolved that it could be a phenomenon similar to phantom pain and a consequence of maladaptive neuronal plasticity (cf. Jastreboff Neurosci Res 1990: 8: 221). The terms 'centralization of tinnitus' or 'central tinnitus' have been used to differentiate chronic subjective tinnitus from acute or objective forms. In the present study we sought to identify cortical representations of chronic subjective tinnitus. Region…