Trending Now - Ssris Could Be Connected to Tinnitus via Brain Chemistry

WHO:

Oregon Health and Science University - Researchers from Oregon Health & Science University and Anhui University in China conducted the study.

Laurence Trussell, Ph.D. - Co-senior author and professor of otolaryngology at OHSU.

Zheng-Quan Tang, Ph.D. - Co-author from Anhui University in China.

WHAT:

Oregon Health and Science University - A study revealed that elevated serotonin levels can exacerbate or induce tinnitus.

Oregon Health and Science University - Researchers identified a specific brain circuit linking serotonin to auditory symptoms for the first time.

Oregon Health and Science University - When the serotonergic circuit was turned off in mice, tinnitus symptoms were significantly reduced.

ScienceAlert - Tinnitus is defined as a 'phantom' noise, often described as ringing, hissing, or buzzing.

WHERE:

Oregon Health and Science University - The research was conducted at Oregon Health and Science University in the United States and Anhui University in China.

WHEN:

Oregon Health and Science University - The findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in 2026.

Oregon Health and Science University - The study builds on previous research published in 2017.

WHY:

Oregon Health and Science University - The study aims to find a balance in drug regimens that treat psychiatric symptoms without worsening tinnitus.

ScienceAlert - The research suggests that serotonin may influence the severity of tinnitus, which is often treated with SSRIs.

HOW:

Oregon Health and Science University - Researchers used optogenetics to activate serotonin-producing neurons in a specific brain circuit in mice.

Oregon Health and Science University - The study involved mapping the pathway from the dorsal raphe nucleus to the dorsal cochlear nucleus to understand how serotonin affects auditory processing.

ScienceAlert - Mice were genetically altered to allow researchers to activate serotonin-releasing neurons and observe behavioral responses indicative of tinnitus.

(UPDATED April 21, 2026 09:21 UTC)

Researchers from Oregon Health and Science University and Anhui University in China have discovered that elevated serotonin levels can worsen or even trigger tinnitus, a condition characterized by phantom noises like ringing or buzzing. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, identified a specific brain circuit linking serotonin to auditory symptoms for the first time, and when this circuit was turned off in mice, their tinnitus symptoms significantly decreased. Using optogenetics, the team mapped the pathway from the dorsal raphe nucleus to the dorsal cochlear nucleus, allowing them to observe how serotonin influences auditory processing and behavioral responses related to tinnitus.