Subjective tinnitus (ST) often causes significant psychological and sleep disturbances, and limited treatment options are available. Neuroimaging suggests that acupuncture modulates brain activity. This study aimed to evaluate electroacupuncture (EA) for ST treatment using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to explore its central mechanisms.
Results are not yet available from the provided description; audiologists should await published outcome data before considering electroacupuncture as a referral option for tinnitus management.
Tinnitus remains difficult to treat, and objective evidence of brain-level changes from any intervention could open new pathways for management strategies beyond sound therapy and counseling.
- 01RCT design examining electroacupuncture for subjective tinnitus patients.
- 02Primary focus is on brain functional connectivity measured via neuroimaging.
- 03Study also addresses tinnitus-related psychological distress and sleep disruption.
- 04Published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine (doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2026.103391).
- 05Full outcome data not yet extractable from the available description alone.
Electroacupuncture affects brain functional connectivity in patients with subjective tinnitus.
studyunclearSubjective tinnitus is associated with psychological and sleep disturbances.
guidelinesupported- PMID
- 42191050
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.ctim.2026.103391.
- Journal
- Complementary Therapies in Medicine
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 1b
- Population
- Patients with subjective tinnitus experiencing psychological and sleep disturbances
- Intervention
- Electroacupuncture
- Comparator
- Control group (details not specified in abstract)
Primary outcomes
Brain functional connectivity changes; Psychological disturbance outcomes; Sleep disturbance outcomes