$20,000

Analysis of long-term involvement of synaptic plasticity in tinnitus

Tinnitus is a perceived noise in the ears such as ringing, buzzing, or clicking. This perception of noise may be caused by irritation or damage to the auditory nerve. Transient exposure to noise may irritate the auditory nerve causing reversible tinnitus. Prolonged exposure over time may cause intermittent or permanent tinnitus. Because noise pollution is a serious environmental problem, it is estimated that close to 1% of the North-American population suffers from tinnitus. Although tinnitus affects adversely the quality of life of individuals afflicted with this problem, there are at present no effective remedies for this condition. Dr. Guitton proposes to study the neural pathways that are triggered by damage to the auditory nerve to evoke tinnitus in a rat model. By identifying the neurotransmitters and receptors that propagate signals in these pathways, it is anticipated that pharmacological agents can be designed to selectively block these pathways and offer relief to individuals suffering from tinnitus.