Stimulus timing-dependent plasticity in dorsal cochlear nucleus is altered in tinnitus.

Summary

In guinea pigs, DCN bimodal (auditory, somatosensory) plasticity follows stimulus-timing-dependent rules. After noise exposure, animals that developed tinnitus showed broader, more anti-Hebbian timing rules and weaker suppression than sham or noise-exposed non-tinnitus animals. These altered spike-timing plasticity rules implicate DCN bimodal plasticity in tinnitus and identify a therapeutic target, the basis for precisely-timed bimodal stimulation.

Key findings

• DCN bimodal plasticity is stimulus-timing-dependent (Hebbian / anti-Hebbian rules).
• Tinnitus animals show broadened, anti-Hebbian timing rules vs. sham and non-tinnitus animals.
• Identifies altered bimodal spike-timing plasticity as a tinnitus mechanism and therapeutic target.