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Tinnitus may be linked to an important chemical in the brain

2026-04-20 22:33:00, Shëndeti CNA

A recent study by scientists in the United States and China has revealed a significant link between serotonin and tinnitus, a disorder characterized by the perception of invisible sounds such as ringing, whistling, or buzzing in the ears.

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter known primarily for its role in mood regulation and is often used as a target in the treatment of depression and anxiety.

However, according to this study, it may also have a direct impact on the auditory system, influencing the severity of tinnitus symptoms.

The experiment was conducted in mice, where the researchers identified a specific brain circuit that connects the dorsal raphe nucleus, a region in the brainstem that produces serotonin, with the dorsal cochlear nucleus, which plays a key role in processing auditory signals.

Through genetic manipulation and stimulation of serotonergic neurons, the scientists were able to increase serotonin activity in this circuit. The result was clear: the mice began to exhibit behaviors that suggested they were experiencing tinnitus. One of the key indicators was the inability to distinguish between intervals of silence in sounds, a widely used method to identify this condition in animals.

In another phase of the experiment, when the researchers blocked this neural circuit, tinnitus-like symptoms were significantly reduced. Similarly, exposure to loud noises, a common cause of tinnitus, produced effects similar to those of increased serotonin activity.

These results suggest that serotonin is not only involved in tinnitus, but may play a direct role in creating "phantom sounds" in the brain.

The discovery has important implications for treating patients, as many suffer from both anxiety and depression. Standard treatments for these disorders often include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which increase levels of this neurotransmitter in the brain.

According to the researchers, this creates a therapeutic challenge: how to treat mood disorders without worsening tinnitus symptoms. They suggest that in the future, more advanced drugs may be developed that target specific areas of the brain, preserving the positive effects of serotonin and avoiding the negative impacts on hearing.

Although the study was conducted only in animals, it provides new insight into the neurological mechanisms of tinnitus and paves the way for further research in humans./ CNA