Timing control for paired plasticity
Systems, methods and devices for paired training include timing controls so that training and neural stimulation can be provided simultaneously. Paired trainings may include therapies, rehabilitation and performance enhancement training. Stimulations of nerves such as the vagus nerve that affect subcortical regions such as the nucleus basalis, locus coeruleus or amygdala induce plasticity in the brain, enhancing the effects of a variety of therapies, such as those used to treat tinnitus, stroke, traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder.
1. A method of treating tinnitus, comprising:
providing an electrical stimulation to a vagus nerve of a patient; and
providing a sound to the patient, having tinnitus, in therapeutic temporal proximity to the action of providing the electrical stimulation, thereby treating the tinnitus, wherein
the action of providing the electrical stimulation entails providing a half second train of biphasic stimulation pulses with a pulse width of 100 microseconds, at 0.8 milliamps and at 30 Hz.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the sound provided to the patient has a first frequency different than a predetermined second frequency associated with the patient's tinnitus.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the action of providing the electrical stimulation has a temporal period that is different from that of the action of providing sound to the patient.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the action of providing the electrical stimulation begins prior to a beginning of the action of providing the sound to the patient.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the action of providing the electrical stimulation begins after a beginning of the action of providing the sound to the patient.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the action of providing the electrical stimulation overlaps with the action of providing the sound to the patient.