Neuroscientific therapies for subjective tinnitus

Tinnitus, a prevalent auditory symptom, can significantly impair quality of life, yet no definitive pharmacological interventions exist despite extensive ongoing research into its pathophysiology and treatments. The advent of biomedical engineering has introduced neuromodulation as a pivotal therapeutic approach alongside conventional strategies such as pharmacotherapy and surgery. Through the deployment of invasive and non-invasive techniques, using various modalities including magnetic, electronic, and optical means, neuromodulation aims to regulate neural functions. This has not only led to the refinement of fundamental theories but has also enhanced the optimization of clinical applications. As an emerging and promising intervention, neuromodulation enriches the toolkit available for basic neuroscience inquiry and broadens the spectrum of clinical therapies for conditions affecting the central nervous system, including tinnitus. In this paper, we succinctly review the current understanding of tinnitus mechanisms, discuss the features of diverse neuromodulation technologies, explore their application in tinnitus management, and contemplate prospects for their development in treating tinnitus.