Detecting brain signals linked to subjective and somatic tinnitus with near-infrared imaging
Subjective and Somatic Tinnitus; Using Functional Near-Infrared-Spectroscopy to Identify Objective Correlates in Auditory and Non-Auditory Cortices
This project uses safe, noninvasive near-infrared brain imaging to find objective brain activity linked to regular tinnitus and head-or-jaw–modulated somatic tinnitus in people who experience these sounds.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11189596 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would have noninvasive functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) sensors placed on the scalp and an adapted probe near the ear canal to measure blood-based brain signals in auditory and nearby non-auditory areas. The team will record brain responses during quiet rest and during sound stimulation, and may ask you to move your head, neck, or jaw if those movements change your tinnitus. Researchers will compare patterns between people whose tinnitus is associated with hearing loss (non-somatic) and those whose tinnitus shifts with somatic maneuvers (somatic tinnitus). The investigators previously validated the adapted probe and aim to extend those findings to identify reliable, objective markers that match patients’ experiences.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults who experience subjective tinnitus, especially those whose tinnitus pitch or loudness changes with head, neck, or jaw movements (somatic tinnitus), and who can travel to the study site.
Not a fit: People without tinnitus, those with externally measurable (objective) causes of sound such as pulsatile vascular tinnitus, or individuals unable to undergo noninvasive scalp imaging are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide a noninvasive objective test to confirm tinnitus presence and subtype and help guide diagnosis and personalized treatment.
How similar studies have performed: The investigators' prior R21 work and other preliminary fNIRS studies have shown promising objective brain signals for non-somatic tinnitus, but applying this adapted probe to somatic tinnitus is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Basura, Gregory Joseph — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Basura, Gregory Joseph
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.