Functional neuroimaging options for tinnitus

Background: The pathophysiology behind tinnitus is still not well understood. Different imaging methods help in the understanding of the complex relationships that lead to the perception of tinnitus.Objective: Herein, different functional imaging methods that can be used in the study of tinnitus are presented.Materials and methods: Considering the recent literature on the subject, the relevant imaging methods used in tinnitus research are discussed.Results and conclusion: Functional imaging can reveal correlates of tinnitus. Due to the still limited temporal and spatial resolution of current imaging modalities, a conclusive explanation of tinnitus remains elusive. With increasing use of functional imaging, additional important insights into the explanation of tinnitus will be gained in the future.