Stochastic Resonance Phenomenon

Can anyone describe what this is? I've read that it needs to be avoided while doing TRT with the devices.

before anyone posts a "let me google that for you" link - I already did. A simpler explanation would be appreciated.

 

I found this article today but there is still no explanation about application of SR on tinnitus (how does it work?). Maybe some german fellows can contact the authors to get further information:

A possible new tinnitus therapy based on Stochastic Resonance phenomena

Subjective tinnitus is generally assumed to be a consequence of hearing loss. In animal studies it has been demonstrated that acoustic trauma induced cochlear damage can lead to behavioral signs of tinnitus. In addition it was shown that noise trauma may lead to deafferentation of cochlear inner hair cells even in the absence of elevated hearing thresholds, and it seems conceivable that such hidden hearing loss may be sufficient to cause tinnitus. Numerous studies have indicated that tinnitus is correlated with pathologically increased spontaneous firing rates and hyperactivity of neurons along the auditory pathway. It has been proposed that this hyperactivity is the consequence of a mechanism aiming to compensate for reduced input to the auditory system by increasing central neuronal gain. We here propose an alternative model for tinnitus development based on Stochastic Resonance (SR).

This new approach was implemented and tested in a phenomenological computational model.

We could demonstrate that SR might be a major processing principle of the auditory system that serves to partially compensate for acute or chronic hearing loss, e.g. due to cochlear damage. Hereby the noise necessary for SR to work corresponds to increased spontaneous neuronal firing rates in early processing stages of the auditory brainstem. In the light of the model tinnitus is a side effect of a mechanisms that improves hearing thresholds after hearing loss.

We propose the possibility of superseding the internally generated neuronal noise by adding external noise, thereby extinguishing the tinnitus percept. Recently published results validated our model by confirming this crucial prediction in mice. Hence, our model and its implicated prediction indicate a possible new tinnitus therapy.

Source: https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0038-1640429

 

After such a basic assumption, which has not been proven by anything, hardly anything meaningful can actually follow. Hidden hearing loss is at best one of the many theories for some forms of tinnitus.

 

From the same team, with stochastic resonance.

Reducing tinnitus intensity : Pilot study to attenuate tonal tinnitus using individually spectrally optimized near-threshold noise

BACKGROUND: Around 15% of the general population is affected by tinnitus, but no real cure exists despite intensive research. Based on our recent causal model for tinnitus development, we here test a new treatment aimed at counteracting the perception. This treatment is based on the stochastic resonance phenomenon at specific auditory system synapses that is induced by externally presented near-threshold noise.

OBJECTIVE: This pilot study will investigate whether individually spectrally adapted noise can successfully reduce chronic tonal/narrow-band tinnitus during stimulation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hearing loss (HL) as well as tinnitus pitch (TP) and loudness (TL) were audiometrically measured in 22 adults (46.6±16.3 years; 4 women) with tinnitus. Based on these measurements, up to eight different noise stimuli with five intensities (-20 to +20 dB SL) were generated. These were presented for 40 s each via audiologic headphones in a soundproof chamber. After each presentation, the change in TL was rated on a five-level scale (-2 to +2).

RESULTS: We found patients (n = 6) without any improvement in their TL perception as well as patients with improvement (n = 16), where stimulation around the TP was most effective. The groups differed in post-hoc analysis of their audiograms: the effectiveness of our new therapeutic strategy obviously depends on the individual HL, and was most effective in normal-hearing tinnitus patients and those with mild HL.

CONCLUSION: Subjective TL could be reduced in 16 out of 22 patients during stimulation. For a possible success of a future therapy, the HL seems to be of relevance.

Source: https://europepmc.org/article/med/33185745