Exploiting the Potential of Neural Attentional Control to Overcome Hearing Impairment
Trial Parameters
Brief Summary
This study will improve the understanding of the cerebral mechanisms that underlie the control of auditory selective attention and evaluate the potential of neuromodulation to enhance neural attention control as a possible way to overcome hearing impairment. First, electroencephalography (EEG) will be applied to identify neural marker of auditory attention in individuals with hearing loss (HL), tinnitus (TI) and normal hearing (NH). Afterwards, the importance of the identified markers for attention control will be tested using non-invasive transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) and neurofeedback (NF).
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age: 18-35 / 55-75 * German as first language * Normal or corrected to normal vision * Right-handed * Normal hearing, hearing impairment or tinnitus (see specified inclusion) * Normal hearing: ≤20 decibel (dB) hearing level (HL) at frequencies from 250 Hz to 8,000 Hz for both ears. Specified inclusion for Experiment 1, 2, 3 \& 4: * Hearing loss: * bilateral symmetrical sensorineural hearing loss * pure tone thresholds of ≥25 dB HL at one or more frequencies between 250 Hz and 8,000 Hz and differences in thresholds across the two ears of ≤20 dB at every frequency. * Tinnitus: * Persistent chronic tinnitus with duration of more than 3 months * Tinnitus with a Tinnitus Handicap Inventory Grade 2 to 4 (18-76 points) Exclusion Criteria: * Non-symmetrical hearing loss * Raised bi- or multilingually (second language acquired earlier than 6 years of age) * Women who are currently pregnant or breastfeeding * History of brain injury or any neurological disorder (y/n) • For