Understanding how brain activity relates to tinnitus and emotional distress
Official title: Neuronal hyperactivity: tinnitus and distress
Funded at Northeast Ohio Medical University · NIH-10542841 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain brain cells might be acting too much in people with tinnitus, which causes them to hear sounds that aren't really there, and it's trying to find new treatments that could help make those sounds less bothersome.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northeast Ohio Medical University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rootstown, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2019 |
| Project end | December 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $407,747 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DC016918-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10542841 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who experience tinnitus.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not experience tinnitus or have other unrelated auditory conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the connection between tinnitus, a condition where individuals perceive phantom sounds, and hyperactivity in specific brain neurons. By examining both human imaging studies and animal models, the study aims to uncover the cellular mechanisms that lead to this hyperactivity, which may contribute to the distress experienced by tinnitus patients. The researchers will explore the roles of GABAergic inhibition and the intrinsic properties of auditory neurons, using advanced techniques like intracellular labeling and immunostaining. The ultimate goal is to identify potential pharmacological therapies that could alleviate tinnitus symptoms and improve patient quality of life.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments for tinnitus, providing relief to millions of affected individuals.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the mechanisms of tinnitus, but this study aims to explore novel aspects that have not been fully tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Northeast Ohio Medical University
Rootstown, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Galazyuk, Alexander — Northeast Ohio Medical University
- Study coordinator: Galazyuk, Alexander
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding how stress and arousal relate to tinnitus using eye and skin signals
Researchers will test whether easy-to-measure signals like pupil size and skin conductance can reflect how distressing tinnitus feels in adults, especially Veterans.
-
Understanding why age-related hearing loss and tinnitus happen in diverse groups
A study aims to find genetic reasons behind age-related hearing loss and tinnitus in African ancestry and Latino populations.
-
Subjective and Somatic Tinnitus: Finding Objective Brain Signals with a Special fNIRS Scan
This grant tests a brain-imaging approach to identify objective brain signals in people with tinnitus, including those whose phantom sounds change with jaw or head movements.
-
Hormones, gut bacteria, and blood markers linked to tinnitus in women
This study looks at how hormones, gut microbes, and metabolic signals relate to the start and possible remission of tinnitus in women.
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Understanding age-related hearing loss and tinnitus in diverse communities
This project looks for genetic changes linked to age-related hearing loss and ringing in the ears using large whole-genome datasets, focusing especially on people of African and Latino backgrounds.
-
Diagnosing and treating tinnitus linked to head, neck, or jaw problems
This project develops a screening test and a physical-therapy treatment for people—especially Veterans—whose tinnitus changes with head, neck, jaw, or eye movements.
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.