Using x-ray micro computed tomography to quantify intracochlear fibrosis after cochlear implantation in a Guinea pig model.

Cochlear implants (CIs) allow individuals with profound hearing loss to understand speech and perceive sounds. However, not all patients obtain the full benefits that CIs can provide and the cause of this disparity is not fully understood. One possible factor for the variability in outcomes after cochlear implantation, is the development of fibrotic scar tissue around the implanted electrode.

Long-Term Effects of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Tinnitus in a Guinea Pig Model.

The auditory phantom sensation of tinnitus is associated with neural hyperactivity. Modulating this hyperactivity using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has shown beneficial effects in human studies. Previously, we investigated rTMS in a tinnitus animal model and showed that rTMS over prefrontal cortex (PFC) attenuated tinnitus soon after treatment, likely via indirect effects on auditory pathways.