From The Telegraph:
Tinnitus – the perception of ringing, buzzing or hissing in the ears – is extremely common.
Up to 10 per cent of adults are thought to have it to some extent, according to the British Tinnitus Association, although most only mildly. It is more common in the elderly. Sufferers never experience pure silence, and many struggle to fall asleep.
Scientists have now found that playing sufferers the same tone which they “hear” in their mind stops auditory brain cells from creating the perceived noise. With ACR, the brain manages to “unlearn” the neurological processes which cause it to generate the “phantom” sounds sufferers associate with tinnitus.
Areas to think about:
- How might ACR be working?
- What does it potentially reveal about how the brain perceives stimuli?
- Are there any other conditions that may be amenable to analogous interventions?
Discussion
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