Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42876536›Full record

Trial reportFrontiers in neurology2026

Differential mechanisms of continuous theta burst stimulation and low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for chronic tinnitus: preliminary efficacy dissociation by local focalization vs. network dispersion.

Mengxue Zhang, Li Qin, Enli Jin, Chaoqi Shi, Jiayu Ni, Jiaying Wang, Siqi Gao, Yiqi Ma, Xiao Li, Yuan Li

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Frontiers in neurology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Mengxue ZhangHangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China.
Li QinDeqing Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Huzhou, China.
Enli JinHangzhou Ninth People's Hospital, Hangzhou, China.
Chaoqi ShiZhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China.
Jiayu NiDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China.
Jiaying WangDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China.
Siqi GaoDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China.
Yiqi MaDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China.
Xiao LiHangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China.
Yuan LiDeqing Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Huzhou, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to preliminarily compare clinical efficacy and neural mechanisms of continuous theta-burst stimulation (cTBS) and low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) targeting the auditory cortex in chronic subjective tinnitus. Differential effects on tinnitus loudness and distress, as well as the moderating role of disease duration, were explored. Methods: Twenty-nine patients were randomly assigned to cTBS ( Results: Clinically, cTBS was associated with a rapid reduction in VAS-rated tinnitus loudness ( Conclusion: Our exploratory results suggest that cTBS may facilitate a rapid reduction in tinnitus loudness possibly through focal auditory modulation, while low-frequency rTMS eases persistent tinnitus distress through large-scale network remodeling. Our findings provide preliminary evidence for the divergent prefrontal inhibitory profiles of the two inhibitory protocols. Shorter tinnitus duration predicts better therapeutic outcomes, highlighting the value of early intervention. These exploratory results provide evidence for personalized TMS-based neuromodulation in chronic tinnitus.

Indexed as

Auditory CortexNerve NetTheta RhythmTinnitusTranscranial Magnetic StimulationAdultChronic DiseaseFemaleHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleMiddle AgedTreatment Outcomebrain networkchronic subjective tinnituscontinuous theta burst stimulationdisease durationfunctional magnetic resonance imagingrepetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation

Identifiers

PMID42876536
PMCPMC13661314

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.