Cognitive and Emotional Function and Brain Reorganisation Associated with Auditory Abilities: Impact of Tinnitus

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying tinnitus, a condition characterized by ringing in the ears, particularly focusing on its impact on cognitive, emotional, psychoacoustic, and brain functions. This study explores tinnitus in patients who have had brain surgery for drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy and compares them to other tinnitus sufferers and control groups without tinnitus. The goal is to better understand brain changes and the psychological and hearing effects linked to tinnitus using this new clinical model. Participants undergo various assessments over multiple visits. These include acoustic tests and questionnaires about cognitive, emotional, and auditory functions at the first visit, followed by anatomical and functional MRI scans at the second visit. The study compares different groups based on tinnitus presence and history of temporal lobe surgery, aiming to clarify how tinnitus relates to brain network reorganization. During the study, participants complete evaluations of executive cognitive function, emotional states like anxiety and depression, psychoacoustic measurements, and other cognitive functions such as attention and memory. Brain connectivity changes are assessed up to 18 months after the first visit. The study monitors these aspects through structured visits and collects data to understand the broader effects of tinnitus on brain and behavior.

Pathophysiology, Psycho-emotional and Cognitive Functioning Associated With Tinnitus