Sound therapy retrains the brain’s auditory and emotional networks - Printable Version +- Tinnitus 7 Forum (https://tinnitus7.com) +-- Forum: Tinnitus 7 Forum (https://tinnitus7.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=1) +--- Forum: General (https://tinnitus7.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=2) +--- Thread: Sound therapy retrains the brain’s auditory and emotional networks (/showthread.php?tid=43)

Sound therapy retrains the brain’s auditory and emotional networks - newsmaster - November 25, 2025 The effects of sound therapy in tinnitus are characterized by altered limbic and auditory networks. The study examined the effects of 12 weeks of individualized sound therapy on 30 tinnitus patients with normal hearing, compared to healthy controls. Resting-state fMRI measured local brain activity (ALFF) and functional connectivity before and after therapy. Before therapy, patients had elevated activity in the left parahippocampal gyrus, which decreased after therapy toward normal levels. Activity in the right Heschl’s gyrus (primary auditory cortex) increased after therapy. Functional connectivity between the parahippocampal gyrus and limbic regions strengthened after therapy, indicating altered brain network interactions. Changes in brain activity and connectivity correlated with reductions in tinnitus symptoms. Key takeaway: Sound therapy reduces tinnitus by reshaping brain activity and connectivity in auditory and emotional networks, not just masking the sound.