Personalized Music-Embedded Sound Therapy Based on Gating Modulation and Neural Decoupling Reduces Tinnitus Severity.
Overview
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380456, Chile; (P.I.H.); (P.H.D.)
- Department of Neurosciences, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile
- Biomedical Neurosciences Institute (BNI), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile
- Advanced Center for Electronical Engineer (AC3E), Valparaíso 2340000, Chile
- Department of Otolaryngology, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago 7610658, Chile
Abstract
Highlights: What are the main findings?
Personalized modified Music-Integrated Desynchronization Sound Therapy (mMIDST) produced significantly greater reductions in Tinnitus Handicap Inventory scores at 2 and 3 months compared with an control non-personalized low-frequency stimulation control.
Clinical improvement was achieved with a short, practical daily stimulation schedule and was modulated by psychological comorbidity, with greater benefit in patients showing normal Goldberg scores.
What are the implications of the main findings?
Embedding desynchronization-based tonal stimulation within music represents a feasible, well tolerated, and personalized non-invasive treatment strategy for chronic tinnitus.
Future studies integrating electrophysiological biomarkers with clinical outcomes are required to clarify neural mechanisms and long-term therapeutic durability.
Abstract: Background: Tinnitus is a prevalent auditory disorder associated with maladaptive cortical plasticity and aberrant neural synchronization across auditory and non-auditory brain networks. Acoustic desynchronization-based sound therapies, such as coordinated reset neuromodulation, aim to counteract pathological oscillatory patterns but commonly require prolonged daily listening sessions and specialized delivery formats, which may limit their accessibility and practicality in routine clinical settings. To address this limitation, a modified desynchronization protocol embedding therapeutic tones within music was developed to improve tolerability and engagement. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical effects of modified Music-Integrated Desynchronization Sound Therapy (mMIDST) on tinnitus severity in patients with chronic tinnitus. Methods: In this prospective, randomized, controlled, single-blind pilot trial conducted at the Otolaryngology Department of Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile (Santiago, Chile) between July 2024 and July 2025, adults aged 18–75 years with chronic non-pulsatile tinnitus were assigned to receive either mMIDST or an active control intervention consisting of low-frequency stimulation (LFS) embedded within identical music tracks. Participants listened to personalized sound files for one hour daily, five days per week. Tinnitus severity was assessed using the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), with audiometric evaluations performed at baseline and after one, two, and three months. Between-group differences were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U test. Results: Twenty-five participants completed the study (15 mMIDST, 10 LFS). Baseline audiometric thresholds and THI scores were comparable between groups. The mMIDST group showed significantly greater reductions in THI scores than the LFS group at two and three months of treatment (p < 0.05). Conclusions: mMIDST was associated with time-dependent improvements in tinnitus-related distress compared with an active control condition. Embedding desynchronization-based tonal stimulation within music may represent a promising and well-tolerated non-invasive approach for chronic tinnitus management.
Reproduced under the paper's license (CC BY), from the paper cited above.
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Data
Datasets cited
- github.com/
hayobk/ , at github.com; found in “Data Availability Statement”mmidst_henriquez_2026_da ta
Data Availability Statement
The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article are available at: https://
Reproduced under the paper's license (CC BY), from the paper cited above.
Versions
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Version 1, 27 September 2026: the first record
Recorded: type, language, journal, volume, issue, pages, dates, 5 authors, 5 keywords, 1 funder, 28 references.
Cite
This paper
Henriquez, P. I., Delano, P. H., Herrada, J., Guevara, C., & Breinbauer, H. A. (2026). Personalized Music-Embedded Sound Therapy Based on Gating Modulation and Neural Decoupling Reduces Tinnitus Severity. Brain sciences, 16(6), 644. https://
BibTeX
@article{henriquez2026pe
author = {Henriquez, Pablo I and Delano, Paul H and Herrada, Javiera and Guevara, Claudia and Breinbauer, Hayo A},
title = {{Personalized Music-Embedded Sound Therapy Based on Gating Modulation and Neural Decoupling Reduces Tinnitus Severity}},
journal = {Brain sciences},
year = {2026},
month = jun,
volume = {16},
number = {6},
pages = {644},
publisher = {Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)},
issn = {2076-3425},
doi = {10.3390/
url = {https://
pmid = {42352653},
pmcid = {PMC13296735}
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
AU - Henriquez, Pablo I
AU - Delano, Paul H
AU - Herrada, Javiera
AU - Guevara, Claudia
AU - Breinbauer, Hayo A
TI - Personalized Music-Embedded Sound Therapy Based on Gating Modulation and Neural Decoupling Reduces Tinnitus Severity
T2 - Brain sciences
J2 - Brain Sci
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/
VL - 16
IS - 6
SP - 644
SN - 2076-3425
PB - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
DO - 10.3390/
UR - https://
LA - en
ER -
CSL-JSON
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