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ICCAC-ToNF & Tinnitus

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Tinnitus, Subjective
Interventions
Other: tomographic EEG Neurofeedback Training
Registration Number
NCT03895047
Lead Sponsor
University of Zurich
Brief Summary

Prevalence of chronic subjective tinnitus is rising with age and associated with maladaptive oscillatory changes in auditory as well as non-auditory regions of the brain such as the insula and the anterior cingulate cortex which are known to be key points within the salience and distress networks of the brain.Thus, we are conducting a clinical trial by implementing those auditory as well as non-auditory regions into a tomographical neurofeedback Training (ToNF) -protocol.

Prior to 12 electroencephalography (EEG) -based ToNF-trainings with 36 older participants using standardized Low Resolution Electromagnetic Tomography Software (sLORETA, Pascual-Marqui 2002), participants' brains will be measured using structural magnet resonance imaging (sMRI) in order to identify potential structural markers for training success (e.g. cortical thickness).

Training success will be measured by oscillatory change via EEG before and after the training period as well as by means of follow-up measures. Furthermore, a comprehensive battery of behavioral and psychometric standardized self-report questionnaires will be applied.

Based on this multifocal (Insula, dorsal anterior cingulate cortex \& auditory cortex) ToNF we expect oscillatory changes resulting in decreased tinnitus symptoms such as perceived loudness and distress.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
36
Inclusion Criteria
  • chronic tinnitus (>6 months)
  • Age 40 to 80
  • Informed Consent
  • Fluent in German language
  • mentally & physically fit
Exclusion Criteria
  • ferromagnetic implants
  • cochlear implants
  • average hearing loss over 50 dB
  • claustrophoby
  • addiction to alcohol or drugs
  • intake of anesthetics, tranquilizers, neuroleptics or antiepileptics
  • acute suicidal

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
AC,I,dACCtomographic EEG Neurofeedback TrainingWithin each training session, participants will receive 7 minutes training for each of the three brain areas Insula (I), dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) \& the auditory cortex (AC) resulting in 21Minutes of training for each session. The arm Title describes the order in which participants within this Arm will receive the three trainings. (E.g. dACC,I,AC: each participant in this group receives the training of the dACC first and the AC last.) This sequence order is kept stable during all training sessions. 12 sessions of Neurofeedback Training, 1-2 times per week.
AC,dACC,Itomographic EEG Neurofeedback TrainingWithin each training session, participants will receive 7 minutes training for each of the three brain areas Insula (I), dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) \& the auditory cortex (AC) resulting in 21Minutes of training for each session. The arm Title describes the order in which participants within this Arm will receive the three trainings. (E.g. dACC,I,AC: each participant in this group receives the training of the dACC first and the AC last.) This sequence order is kept stable during all training sessions. 12 sessions of Neurofeedback Training, 1-2 times per week.
dACC,I,ACtomographic EEG Neurofeedback TrainingWithin each training session, participants will receive 7 minutes training for each of the three brain areas Insula (I), dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) \& the auditory cortex (AC) resulting in 21Minutes of training for each session. The arm Title describes the order in which participants within this Arm will receive the three trainings. (E.g. dACC,I,AC: each participant in this group receives the training of the dACC first and the AC last.) This sequence order is kept stable during all training sessions. 12 sessions of Neurofeedback Training, 1-2 times per week.
dACC,AC,Itomographic EEG Neurofeedback TrainingWithin each training session, participants will receive 7 minutes training for each of the three brain areas Insula (I), dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) \& the auditory cortex (AC) resulting in 21Minutes of training for each session. The arm Title describes the order in which participants within this Arm will receive the three trainings. (E.g. dACC,I,AC: each participant in this group receives the training of the dACC first and the AC last.) This sequence order is kept stable during all training sessions. 12 sessions of Neurofeedback Training, 1-2 times per week.12 sessions of Neurofeedback Training, 1-2 times per week.
I,AC,dACCtomographic EEG Neurofeedback TrainingWithin each training session, participants will receive 7 minutes training for each of the three brain areas Insula (I), dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) \& the auditory cortex (AC) resulting in 21Minutes of training for each session. The arm Title describes the order in which participants within this Arm will receive the three trainings. (E.g. dACC,I,AC: each participant in this group receives the training of the dACC first and the AC last.) This sequence order is kept stable during all training sessions. 12 sessions of Neurofeedback Training, 1-2 times per week.
I,dACC,ACtomographic EEG Neurofeedback TrainingWithin each training session, participants will receive 7 minutes training for each of the three brain areas Insula (I), dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) \& the auditory cortex (AC) resulting in 21Minutes of training for each session. The arm Title describes the order in which participants within this Arm will receive the three trainings. (E.g. dACC,I,AC: each participant in this group receives the training of the dACC first and the AC last.) This sequence order is kept stable during all training sessions. 12 sessions of Neurofeedback Training, 1-2 times per week.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change from Baseline in Tinnitus symptoms assessed by questionnairesTime Frame: at 1, 3, 6 month follow up

Assessement of the Tinnitus symptoms before and after the Treatment with neurofeedback by different questionnaires

Change from Baseline in frequency band EEG-activity in the auditory cortex, insula & dorsal anterior cingulate cortexTime Frame: at 1, 3, 6 month follow up

EEG recordings of the trained frequency bands are compared before and after the Intervention in the named time periods

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
brain structure (volume, surface area) of the three regions of interest as predictor for training success.Baseline (measurement before training)

MRI measurement before training

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University Hospital Zurich, Division of Otorhinolaryngology ORL

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Zurich, ZH, Switzerland

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