Central non-invasive brain stimulation might be of value in managing tinnitus, a study shows.

Taiwanese-led researchers conducted a network meta-analysis of 32 randomised controlled trials comparing central non-invasive brain stimulation with sham, waiting list, or active controls.

The trials included data from 1458 participants (mean age 50 years, 34% female) and covered a range of central non-invasive brain stimulation techniques including repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, theta-burst stimulation, transcranial direct current stimulation and transcranial random noise stimulation.   

Compared with controls, cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex combined with transcranial random noise stimulation over the bilateral auditory cortex was associated with the greatest improvement in tinnitus severity.