Theoretical Tinnitus Multimodality Framework: A Neurofunctional Model

Abstract

Our knowledge about subjective tinnitus physiopathology has improved in the last decades, while information to understand the main mechanisms that transform a neutral phantom sound to tinnitus distress appear to be inadequate. The current review presents evidence from several studies using neuroimaging, electrophysiology and brain lesion techniques aiming at hypothesizing a new realistic multimodality tinnitus framework which can better explain the structural and functional brain connectivity in different stages of tinnitus development. Further to the present work, a full review of the entire literature should be prompted to discuss evidence to more comprehensively investigate the relationship between structural and functional connectivity of tinnitus. Progresses in such framework will shed lights to the tinnitus neurofunctional model and further evidence-based treatment modalities.