MRI Study of Noninvasive Transcranial Electrical Stimulation in Tinnitus

Longitudinal Functional MRI Study of Transcranial Electrical Stimulation in Chronic Tinnitus

The purpose of this research is to understand how a neuromodulation technique, transcranial electrical stimulation (tES), affects brain function in adults with chronic tinnitus measured with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). We hypothesize that multiple sessions of tES (5 consecutive days) will modulate:

1. Overall activity and local connectivity within brain regions near tES electrodes, and
2. Functional connectivity within brain networks associated with brain regions near tES electrodes.

In exploratory analyses, we also measure the extent to which the hypothesized changes listed above a related to changes in tinnitus symptoms after tES.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Tinnitus, Subjective
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES)

Detailed Description

Chronic subjective tinnitus is a common and sometimes disabling condition, with few effective treatments and no cure. Tinnitus is thought to involve dysfunction in central brain networks subsequent to peripheral injury or interference; thus, neurostimulation therapies that directly target central circuits are receiving growing interest. Of these, noninvasive transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) is an attractive option, due to its relative affordability, mobility, and favorable safety profile. A growing number of studies have demonstrated that tES of temporal/auditory cortex is effective at transiently reducing tinnitus symptoms, including tinnitus loudness and tinnitus distress. However, the results of previous clinical trials are variable, and a mechanistic understanding of tES and its therapeutic effects remains elusive. The main goal of this research is to lay the groundwork for improved, patient-centered approaches to noninvasive neurostimulation therapy for chronic tinnitus. To accomplish this long-term goal, this study will determine how the intrinsic activity and connectivity of auditory networks are affected during simultaneous tES-fMRI of auditory cortex, specifically in those patients who experience reduced tinnitus symptoms after 5 consecutive days of tES. Though the primary goal of the proposed research is to optimize tES for the treatment of tinnitus, these studies will also provide a wealth of information regarding tinnitus pathophysiology and the mechanisms of tES more generally, which is being investigated for the treatment of a wide variety of brain disorders and injuries.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 20
• Phase: Early Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Illinois
    • Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60611
      • Center for Translational Imaging

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 65 years (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Ages between 18 and 65
• Race/ethnicity: all races and ethnic groups
• Sex/Gender: all
• Capacity to provide informed consent
• Subjective tinnitus symptoms for at least one year prior (confirmed by patient self-report)
• Has discussed tinnitus symptoms with clinician (i.e., physician, audiologist) to confirm low/no likelihood of physical or neurological origin of tinnitus symptoms (e.g., acoustic neuroma, Meniere's Disease, etc.), confirmed by patient self-report
• Stable standard or no pharmacological treatment regimen for tinnitus (e.g., SSRI or SNRI) with no change in treatment 6 weeks prior to study start

Exclusion Criteria:

• Ages below 18 (neurobiology is quite different in children vs. adults)
• Ages above 65 (cortical excitability changes with age)
• Tinnitus symptoms with known medial origin, including: Meniere's disease, pulsatile tinnitus, acoustic neuroma, spontaneous optoacoustic emissions, any other known medical origin
• Diagnosis of any medical condition potentially affecting brain function, including: neuropsychiatric or mental disorders, mood disorders (bipolar disorder, anxiety, PTSD), psychotic states or disorders, developmental disorders, neurological disorders, including mild cognitive impairment, significant head injury, significant history of alcohol/substance abuse or dependence, chronic pain (>1 year duration)
• MRI contraindications: metal or other implants that are not MR-safe, claustrophobia, pregnancy or suspected pregnancy
• tDCS contraindications*: skin conditions or injuries on the scalp, hair extensions, wigs, braids, etc. that cannot be removed prior to the study, metal implants or pacemakers (also contraindicated for MRI) *Please note that history of seizures or epilepsy, stroke, and brain injury are not safety concerns for tES use, and may be inclusion criteria for other tES studies. However, individuals with history of these conditions will be excluded here because these conditions are not a focus of the current study (see above).
• Non-English speakers (due to written consent and questionnaires administered)
• other major medical conditions (e.g., cancer, stroke).
• Significant history of alcohol/substance abuse or dependence within last 12 months
• Neurostimulation or neuromodulation treatment for any reason within the past 3 months
• Current medication use potentially affecting brain function, including decongestants, antihistamines, benzodiazepines or other anticonvulsants, anti-psychotics, or antidepressants.
• Prisoners will not participate in this study.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: PARALLEL
• Masking: SINGLE

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
ACTIVE_COMPARATOR: Active tES	Device: Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES); In tES, a mild electrical current is passed between two or more electrodes placed on the volunteer's head (scalp). In this study, a mild unvarying (constant) electrical 2mA current is passed between two rubber electrodes placed on the head over auditory cortex for 20 minutes per session for 5 consecutive days. Because the electrical current direction (positive/negative) and current amplitude (2mA) does not vary or change during stimulation, this type of tES is also called transcranial "direct current" stimulation, or tDCS.; Other Names: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)
SHAM_COMPARATOR: Sham/Inactive tES	Device: Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES); In tES, a mild electrical current is passed between two or more electrodes placed on the volunteer's head (scalp). In this study, a mild unvarying (constant) electrical 2mA current is passed between two rubber electrodes placed on the head over auditory cortex for 20 minutes per session for 5 consecutive days. Because the electrical current direction (positive/negative) and current amplitude (2mA) does not vary or change during stimulation, this type of tES is also called transcranial "direct current" stimulation, or tDCS.; Other Names: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes in brain function (functional connectivity)	Changes in temporal coherence (functional connectivity) of local auditory-cortex activity and auditory networks measured with BOLD-fMRI	baseline, interim (1 week after baseline), and post-tES (2 weeks after tES)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Tinnitus loudness ratings	Perceived loudness of tinnitus sensation will be measured using a 10-point Likert rating scale, where a rating of "1" indicates no tinnitus and a rating of "10" indicates loudest tinnitus imaginable. In this rating scale, higher ratings indicate more severe symptoms.	daily from date of randomization until 2 weeks after the the last study visit (tES session)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Northwestern University
• Collaborators: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (ACTUAL): August 1, 2018
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): December 13, 2022
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): December 13, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 7, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 21, 2018
• First Posted (ACTUAL): June 1, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ESTIMATE): February 9, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 8, 2023
• Last Verified: February 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS); functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nervous System Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases; Ear Diseases; Sensation Disorders; Hearing Disorders; Tinnitus
• Other Study ID Numbers: STU00207056; R21DC015880 (NIH)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: De-identified research data may be shared upon completion of the study with researchers according to Northwestern IRB approved protocols. Shared data will not include personally identifiable information or protected health information.
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: After study completion, data will be made available upon request and upon approvals from all relevant regulatory agencies.
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: Approval of Institutional Review Board (and/or other relevant regulatory agencies) at all involved institutions.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No