Acúfenos: Sección exacerbantes y atenuantes: La Temperatura no influye

Does caloric vestibular stimulation modulate tinnitus?

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David M. Baguley^{a, ,} , Richard Knight^a and Lucy Bradshaw^b

^a Department of Audiology (94), Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ, United Kingdom
^b Centre for Applied Medical Statistics, University of Cambridge, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0SR, United Kingdom

Received 23 December 2009; 

revised 20 January 2011; 

accepted 20 January 2011. 

Available online 2 February 2011.

Abstract

Caloric vestibular stimulation (CVS) has been demonstrated to transiently modulate a variety of cognitive functions.

These effects are associated with the brain activation induced by CVS, involving the temporal–parietal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex and insular cortex, which are thought to form a multimodal vestibular cortical network.

The present study investigated the effect of CVS upon tinnitus. Twenty patients undergoing vestibular function tests for symptoms of imbalance and who reported tinnitus were asked to rate their tinnitus using visual analogue measures of pitch and intensity immediately before and after CVS (H₂O at 44 °C) in the ear ipsilateral to the tinnitus.

One patient was excluded due to test findings indicative of a central vestibular abnormality.

The mean VAS pitch (pre–post) changed from 5.65 to 5.28 (95% confidence interval (−0.87, 0.12), p-value 0.13) and the mean change in intensity changed from 5.21 to 4.43 (95% confidence interval (−1.60, 0.04), p-value 0.06).

The findings indicate that there is no consistent influence of CVS upon tinnitus, and we propose that perceived pitch and intensity of tinnitus are independent of the multimodal vestibular network that is activated by CVS.

Research highlights

► Caloric vestibular stimulation does not consistently influence tinnitus pitch nor intensity. ► The perception of tinnitus is extrinsic to the multi-modal vestibular cortical network. ► CVS can be quantified by standard and straightforward video nystagmography techinques.

Keywords: Tinnitus; Caloric vestibular stimulation

Article Outline

Acknowledgements

References

Fig. 1. Pre and post CVS data regarding tinnitus pitch.

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Fig. 2. Pre and post CVS data regarding tinnitus intensity.

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Table 1. Visual analogue scale data regarding tinnitus pitch.

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Table 2. Visual analogue scale data regarding tinnitus intensity.

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Corresponding author. Fax: +44 1223 596101.

Fuente: Neuroscience Letters
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