Inhibitory neurotransmission in animal models of tinnitus: Maladaptive plasticity

► Tinnitus is a phantom sensation generally associated with hearing loss. ► Tinnitus may result from maladaptive plastic down-regulation of inhibition. ► Acute and chronic tinnitus models show functional changes of neural activity in DCN and IC. ► DCN and IC show tinnitus-related decrease of adult inhibitory neurotransmission. ► Understanding tinnitus-related plasticity may help define targets for drug treatment.