Neuromagnetic Correlates of Endogenous Auditory Sensations

Abstract

Endogenous auditory sensations occur without simultaneous reception of an external acoustic stimulus. They can occur under physiological conditions, but can also be associated with pathological processes. A commonly known sensation of the second kind is tinnitus, or ringing in the ear, a frequent symptom which is often associated with several hearing disorders. A sensation of the first kind is the auditory afterimage. Contrary to the vision system in which after-images have been known for a long time, auditory stimulation was, in general, not assumed to lead to clear-cut after-effects. An exception is the exposure to acoustic overstimulation which has been known to lead to a temporary threshold shift which is sometimes accompanied by an auditory sensation, tinnitus.