The Quantum Tunneling of Ions Model Can Explain the Pathophysiology of Tinnitus

Brain Sciences

Aiman Suleiman¹  Murad Emar²  Ahmad Almasri³  Mohammed Yasein³  Zaid Mahameed³  Zuhir Ghala³  Ala’ Saifan³  Ayham Alzubaidi³  Enas Al-Zubidi³  Shahed Haimour³  S. M. Al-Rawashdeh⁴  Lubna Khreesha⁵  Mohamed Tawalbeh⁵  Baeth M Al-Rawashdeh⁵  Ahmad Alraiqib⁶  Abdallah Barjas Qaswal⁷  Mohammad Iswaid⁷  Fuad Mohammed Zayed⁷  Khaled Ojjoh⁷ 

[1] Department of Anesthesia, Intensive Care and Pain Management, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA;Department of General Surgery, Leicester University Hospitals, P.O. Box 7853, Leicester LE1 9WW, UK;Department of Internship Program, Jordan University Hospital, Amman 11942, Jordan;Department of Scientific Basic Sciences, Faculty of Engineering Technology, Al-Balqa Applied University, Salt 19117, Jordan;Department of Special Surgery, Jordan University Hospital, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan;School of Medicine, Mutah University, Karak 61710, Jordan;School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan;

关键词: tinnitus;    quantum tunneling;    quantum biology;    inner hair cell;    quantum conductance;    voltage-gated channel;   

DOI  :  10.3390/brainsci12040426

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Tinnitus is a well-known pathological entity in clinical practice. However, the pathophysiological mechanisms behind tinnitus seem to be elusive and cannot provide a comprehensive understanding of its pathogenesis and clinical manifestations. Hence, in the present study, we explore the mathematical model of ions’ quantum tunneling to propose an original pathophysiological mechanism for the sensation of tinnitus. The present model focuses on two major aspects: The first aspect is the ability of ions, including sodium, potassium, and calcium, to depolarize the membrane potential of inner hair cells and the neurons of the auditory pathway. This membrane depolarization is induced via the quantum tunneling of ions through closed voltage-gated channels. The state of membrane depolarization can be a state of hyper-excitability or hypo-excitability, depending on the degree of depolarization. Both of these states aid in understanding the pathophysiology of tinnitus. The second aspect is the quantum tunneling signals between the demyelinated neurons of the auditory pathway. These signals are mediated via the quantum tunneling of potassium ions, which exit to the extracellular fluid during an action potential event. These quantum signals can be viewed as a “quantum synapse” between neurons. The formation of quantum synapses results in hyper-excitability among the demyelinated neurons of the auditory pathway. Both of these aspects augment and amplify the electrical signals in the auditory pathway and result in a loss of the spatiotemporal fidelity of sound signals going to the brain centers. The brain interprets this hyper-excitability and loss of spatiotemporal fidelity as tinnitus. Herein, we show mathematically that the quantum tunneling of ions can depolarize the membrane potential of the inner hair cells and neurons of the auditory pathway. Moreover, we calculate the probability of action potential induction in the neurons of the auditory pathway generated by the quantum tunneling signals of potassium ions.

【 授权许可】

Unknown