Scientists have discovered that the very brain chemical used to combat depression may also be quietly making tinnitus worse.
Serotonin, the brain chemical best known for regulating mood may also be contributing to tinnitus, according to new research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Tinnitus, the persistent ringing or buzzing sound in the ears, affects millions of people worldwide.
For years, scientists suspected serotonin had something to do with tinnitus, but exactly how it worked remained a mystery.
According to Zheng-Quan Tang, Ph.D., of Anhui University in China, researchers knew serotonin was somehow tied to tinnitus, but the underlying mechanism wasn't well understood. Working with mice, their team identified a specific brain circuit, one that carries serotonin signals directly to the auditory system was showing capabilities of triggering tinnitus like effects. When the researchers deactivated that circuit, they saw a significant reduction in tinnitus symptoms.
Tang noted that this discovery offers a much clearer window into what's happening in the brain, and opens the door to potential new treatment approaches.
Read more here: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515002155.htm