Around 15 percent of the world’s population suffers from tinnitus, a condition that causes someone to hear a sound without any external source. While there is currently no cure for tinnitus, research suggests that better managing or treating it could help millions worldwide.
Scientists believe that sleep may hold the key to understanding tinnitus. Tinnitus is a phantom percept, meaning our brain activity creates sounds that aren’t there. When we sleep, brain activity changes, and certain areas of the brain become more active than they should be. This may explain why people with tinnitus experience phantom perceptions while awake.
Research has identified two brain mechanisms underlying both tinnitus and sleep. Understanding these mechanisms could lead to new ways of managing and treating tinnitus. One key factor is slow-wave sleep, a stage of deep sleep that helps the brain recover from daily wear and tear. However, some people with tinnitus may have overactive brain regions during this stage, disrupting normal sleep patterns.
Studies suggest that tinnitus may suppress itself during deep sleep due to changes in brain activity and connectivity. Additionally, sleep plays a crucial role in strengthening our memory, which may contribute to the long-term persistence of tinnitus symptoms.
Researchers are now exploring how tinnitus changes during sleep and whether manipulating sleep can improve patient wellbeing. Future studies will track brain activity during different stages of sleep to better understand the link between tinnitus and sleep. By doing so, scientists hope to develop new treatments for this debilitating condition.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/tinnitus-seems-somehow-linked-to-a-crucial-bodily-function