Applications of the Stroop Paradigm in Tinnitus: a Scoping Review.

Abstract

<h4>Introduction</h4>The Stroop paradigm is important for assessing top-down attentional control. Considering that tinnitus has been linked to cognitive dysfunctions, the present study intends to investigate Stroop's application in the tinnitus population.<h4>Methods</h4>This is a scoping review, following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, performed until December 2024. Searches were conducted in the MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase (Elsevier), PsycINFO (APA), SCOPUS (Elsevier), and Web of Science (Clarivate Analytics) databases. Studies were selected based on the following criteria: Types of participants: subjects with tinnitus (with no age limit); types of intervention: the Stroop paradigm applied to tinnitus population, isolated or combined with other evaluations or interventions for the tinnitus; types of study: original articles of different designs, with no language and publication date limits. Studies that used evaluations or intervention forms other than the Stroop paradigm, papers exclusively on other health conditions, congress or conferences' material, and studies not available in the database and/or as a full text were excluded. Results were presented and qualitatively assessed based on the Critically Appraised Topics (CAT).<h4>Results</h4>369 records were identified in the searching stage, and 22 studies were selected for data extraction. Author/date, Stroop paradigm application, Stroop methodology adopted, outcomes measures for Stroop, and level of evidence were extracted. The most common application for Stroop in tinnitus subjects was cognitive function assessment, followed by neuronal connectivity assessment during the task, development of auditory training strategies, and measurement before and after surgical treatment. The main methodology adopted for Stroop was based on conventional Stroop tasks.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Stroop applications to the tinnitus population were diverse, considering methodologies and finalities. Results showed that Stroop can highlight top-down cognitive control in the tinnitus population. However, the current body of evidence is limited in quality and consistency, highlighting the need for more rigorous and standardized research to better inform its clinical applicability.