Modulating Tinnitus with Visual, Muscular, and Tactile Stimulation

Tinnitus can be evoked or modulated by inputs from somatosensory, somatomotor, and visual-motor systems in some individuals. This means that the psychoacoustic attributes of tinnitus might be changed temporarily during forceful muscle contractions of the head, neck, and limbs; eye movements in horizontal or vertical axis; myofascial trigger points; cutaneous stimulation of the hand or fingertip region; electrical stimulation of the median nerve and hand region; finger movements; or orofacial movements or pressure applied to the temporomandibular joint. Although there are still many aspects to be understood about the modulation phenomenon, these findings suggest that patients who are able to modulate their tinnitus should be included into a specific subgroup with guidelines for clinical practice and for whom special therapeutic strategies could be developed. KEYWORDS Tinnitus - somatosensory system - gaze-evoked - dorsal cochlear nucleus - myofascial trigger points