Although the exact cause of tinnitus is unclear, medical experts believe that inadequate stimulation of the cochlea – the organ in the inner ear that senses sound – or the cochlear nerve, which carries signals, causes over-sensitization of the auditory cortex, which is located in the brain’s temporal lobe and is responsible for processing sound. The result is hearing sound when there is no actual external noise.
“Outcomes so far have been very exciting, and Brian’s generous gift will help us continue this important work,” Djalilian said. “Our implantable electronic stimulation device shows great promise for bringing a life-changing breakthrough to millions of people.”
Djalilian is also a professor of biomedical engineering. His collaborators include Michael Green, professor of electrical engineering and computer science; Fan-Gang Zeng, professor of otolaryngology; and Harrison Lin, associate professor of otolaryngology.