A neural prosthetic device for reducing or eliminating the effects of
tinnitus is inserted into a tinnitus patient's primary auditory cortex (or
thalamus). The prosthetic device includes a stimulation device for
outputting processed electrical signals and an electrode arranged in the
primary auditory cortex having a plurality of electrical contacts. Each of
the plurality of electrical contacts independently outputs electrical
discharges in accordance with the electrical signals. In another
embodiment, a catheter is inserted into the tinnitus patient's primary
auditory cortex or thalamus. The catheter microinfuses drugs which
suppress or eliminate abnormal neural activity into disperse geometric
locations in the cortex or thalamus, thereby reducing or eliminating the
effects of the patient's tinnitus.