Insular lateralization in tinnitus distress

Tinnitus affects 15% of the population. Of these 1-2% are severely disabled by it. The role of the autonomic system in tinnitus is hardly being investigated. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between tinnitus distress and lateralization of the anterior insula, known to be involved in interoceptive awareness and (para)sympathetic changes. For this, Tinnitus Questionnaire scores are correlated to Heart Rate Variability markers, and related to neural activity in left and right anterior insula. Our results show that tinnitus distress is related to sympathetic activation, in part mediated via the right anterior insula. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.