The role of neural plasticity in tinnitus

Abstract

Keypoints: 1. There is evidence from many studies that plastic changes in the central nervous system are involved in causing many forms of tinnitus. 2. Expression of neural plasticity may cause symptoms of sensory system disorders by changing neural processing and rerouting of information. 3. Rerouting of information through activation of neural plasticity may explain the occurrence of affective symptoms (mood disorders), phantom sensations, improved perceptual capabilities, or atypical sensory experiences such as phantom sensations, tinnitus, and neuropathic pain. 4. Changes in the processing of information may cause hyperacusis and distortion of sounds in connection with some forms of tinnitus. 5. There is evidence that the nonclassical auditory pathways in adults may be activated through expression of neural plasticity, causing cross-modal interaction in some individuals with tinnitus. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011.