# Tailor-made notched music training–induced residual inhibition in subjective tinnitus: resting-state EEG spectral power ratio evidence

## TL;DR

A non-invasive music training method may reduce tinnitus symptoms, with changes in brainwave patterns supporting its effectiveness.

## Contribution

This study provides electrophysiological evidence for TMNMT-induced residual inhibition in tinnitus.

## Key findings

- TMNMT reduced tinnitus loudness and annoyance in 69% of patients.
- EEG spectral power ratios showed frequency-specific changes during TMNMT.
- Higher baseline tinnitus severity correlated with greater symptom improvement.

## Abstract

Residual inhibition (RI) is clinically useful but lacks objective markers. Tailor-made notched music training (TMNMT) is a non-invasive paradigm that may elicit RI. We evaluated whether resting-state EEG spectral power ratios (SPR) provide a convergent electrophysiological signature of TMNMT-induced RI.

We retrospectively analyzed 29 adults with chronic subjective tinnitus who underwent a single 10-min TMNMT session. Resting-state EEG was recorded immediately before (pre-stim), during (during-stim), and after stimulation (post-stim). Power was estimated by Welch’s method and summarized as band-limited SPR for delta (1–4 Hz), theta (4–8 Hz), alpha (8–13 Hz), and beta (13–30 Hz) relative to broadband power (1–30 Hz). Behavioral outcomes included visual analogue scales (VAS) for loudness/annoyance and RI intensity and duration. Repeated-measures non-parametric tests with false-discovery-rate (FDR) correction were the primary analyses; effect sizes were reported where applicable.

RI was observed in 20 of 29 patients (69%) following the routine TMNMT exposure. Across the cohort, VAS loudness/annoyance decreased within-session. SPR showed a frequency-specific shift characterized by increases in delta and theta power ratios and a reduction in alpha, with a non-significant downward trend in beta. Exploratory analyses suggested that higher baseline tinnitus severity (THI) was associated with greater VAS improvement and higher likelihood of RI positivity.

The present retrospective analysis characterized behavioral and EEG spectral patterns observed during routine TMNMT exposure. We observed that TMNMT produced measurable tinnitus relief accompanied by frequency-specific SPR shifts. These findings collectively offer preliminary observational evidence and practical rationale for the potential clinical utility of TMNMT.