Abstract
Tinnitus is associated with damages in the peripheral auditory system and changes in signal processing along the ascending auditory pathway. Furthermore, within the last years it became evident that beside nuclei of the auditory system associated brain areas like the limbic system are involved in the chronic manifestation of tinnitus. To better understand the processes that take place during the development of tinnitus, diagnostic tools are required that allow an analysis beyond the auditory system including associated brain areas. In this review, we report results from corporate investigations of the auditory periphery (hearing function), signal transmission along the ascending auditory pathway (ABR wave analysis) and central nervous activity (MEMRI).