# Response time, amplitude, and neural auditory maintenance in individuals with tinnitus: a comparative study

## TL;DR

The study found that people with tinnitus have longer neural response times for a specific brain signal, suggesting issues with central auditory processing.

## Contribution

The study identifies a specific neural delay in tinnitus patients using auditory evoked potentials, highlighting central auditory processing differences.

## Key findings

- No significant differences were found in latency and amplitude of P1, N1, P2, and N2 potentials between groups.
- Tinnitus individuals showed significantly longer latency in the P300 component, indicating disorganized central auditory processing.

## Abstract

To verify and compare the response time, amplitude, and neural auditory maintenance of the central auditory pathway in subjects with and without tinnitus disorder.

This is an analytical, cross-sectional, and quantitative study approved by the Research Ethics Committee. The responses of Long Latency Auditory Evoked Potentials (LLAEP) with verbal stimuli were compared between 16 subjects with tinnitus disorder (Study Group - SG) and 12 subjects without tinnitus (Control Group - CG). The neural response time was evaluated by the latency of the P1, N1, P2, N2, and P300 potentials. The amplitude of these potentials was also analyzed. Neural response maintenance was verified through the duration values of the P300 component. The results were compared between the groups, considering a significance level of 5%.

In the comparison between the groups regarding the latency and amplitude values of the cortical potentials (P1, N1, P2, and N2), no statistically significant differences were observed (p>0.05). However, concerning the latency, amplitude, and duration of the P300 component between the groups, a statistically significant difference was observed for the latency variable, which was greater for individuals with tinnitus disorder (p<0.05).

Individuals with tinnitus disorder have a longer neural response time for the P300 component, suggesting disorganization in central auditory processing.

Verificar e comparar o tempo de resposta, a amplitude e manutenção auditiva neural da via auditiva central em sujeitos com e sem transtorno do zumbido.

Estudo de caráter analítico, transversal e quantitativo, aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa. Foram comparadas as respostas da avaliação dos Potenciais Evocados Auditivos de Longa Latência (PEALL) com estímulo verbal de 16 sujeitos com transtorno do zumbido (Grupo Estudo - GE) e 12 sujeitos sem zumbido (Grupo Controle - GC). O tempo de resposta neural foi avaliado por meio da latência dos potenciais P1, N1, P2, N2 e P300. Analisou-se também a amplitude desses potenciais. A manutenção da resposta neural foi verificada por meio dos valores de duração do componente P300. Os resultados foram comparados entre os grupos, considerando o nível de significância de 5%.

Na comparação entre os grupos dos valores de latência e amplitude dos potenciais corticais (P1,N1,P2 e N2), não foram observadas diferenças estatisticamente significantes (p>0,05). Já em relação à latência, amplitude e duração do componente P300 entre os grupos, observou-se diferença estatisticamente significante para a variável latência, sendo a mesma maior para os indivíduos com transtorno do zumbido (p<0,05).

Indivíduos com transtorno do zumbido apresentam tempo de resposta neural maior do componente P300, o que sugere desorganização do funcionamento auditivo central.