Apparatus and method for calibrating acoustic desynchronizing neurostimulation

Abstract

An apparatus for stimulating neurons, comprising a stimulation unit for applying pulse-like tones, a measuring unit for picking up measurement signals that render neural activity by the stimulated neurons, a control and analysis unit for controlling the stimulation unit and for analysing the measurement signals, wherein the control and analysis unit is embodied such that it applies a first pulse train having varied pitch, takes the measurement signals picked up in response to the first pulse train as a basis for selecting at least one first pitch range or pitch in which there is phase synchronisation between the pulse train and the neural activity, actuates the stimulation unit such that it applies two phase-shifted second pulse trains, the pitch of the pulse trains being varied in opposite directions and a starting value for the pitch of the second pulse trains being chosen on the basis of the at least one first pitch range or pitch, and takes this as a basis for responding by selecting a second pitch range or pitch in which the amplitude of the neural activity is at a minimum.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to a device for calibrating acoustically desynchronized nerve stimulation [0002] and methods. Background technique [0003] In patients with neurological diseases such as tinnitus, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, ADHS or schizophrenia, populations of nerve cells in specific regions of the brain are pathologically triggered, eg hypersynchronously triggered. In this case, a large number of nerves form synchronous action potentials, which means that the nerves involved fire excessively synchronously. In contrast, in healthy people the nerves in this area of ​​the brain fire in other ways, for example in unrelated ways. [0004] Acoustic coordination reset (CR)-stimulation was developed for the treatment of chronic subjective tinnitus, which purposely resists pathologically synchronized neural triggers (see P.A. Tass, I. Adamchic, H.-J. Freund, T. von Stackelberg, C .Hauptmann的《Counteractingtinnitusbyacousticcoordinate...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Time-consuming experiments do not guarantee the ideal effect of non-invasive CR treatment, because on the one hand, it is not possible to systematically develop and test all possible stimulation points in the brain, and on the other hand, the long-term examination makes the patient Stressed, which naturally affects patient compliance and worsens test results

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