Deep brain stimulation for phantom perceptions

A strategy for treating phantom perceptions, such as tinnitus, through deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the striatum and a lead design supporting such therapy is described. Both normal and phantom perceptions are thought to involve both neuronal activity in modality-specific portions of the brain, such as the cerebral cortex, acting in coordination with integrative circuits, such as those of the basal ganglia. Each stage of processing represents a target for therapies which interfere with perception of the phantom. Treatments of phantom perceptions have targeted brain structures related to sensory processing. For example, tinnitus treatments have involved interfering with auditory processing, such as by adding a masking sound at the auditory periphery, by directly stimulating the auditory cortex or by engaging plasticity in the auditory cortex. An alternative strategy is to interfere with the integrative process, such as by stimulating the terminal projection of specific areas of the cerebral cortex, related to the phantom modality, within the striatum. The strategy has the advantage of being applicable to a wide range of phantom perceptions. It also has the potential to block perception of the phantom without introducing new treatment-related perceptions.