Auditory resting-state functional connectivity in tinnitus and modulation with transcranial direct current...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Audiology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Tinnitus is often associated with altered functional connectivity (FC) in auditory brain networks.
• Understanding these network changes is crucial for developing effective tinnitus treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on brain network modulation in tinnitus patients.
• To analyze changes in resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) functional connectivity (FC) following tDCS.

Main Methods:

• Enrolled nine male chronic tinnitus patients and ten male healthy controls.
• Acquired rs-fMRI data immediately before and after tDCS application.
• Tinnitus patients completed self-evaluation questionnaires pre-tDCS and one week post-tDCS.

Main Results:

• Tinnitus patients showed significantly weaker FC between the right and left auditory cortex compared to controls.
• Post-tDCS, tinnitus patients exhibited reduced FC between the primary auditory cortex and somatosensory/motor areas, but maintained auditory/insular connectivity.
• Control subjects consistently maintained strong FC between the primary auditory cortex and auditory, insular, somatosensory, and motor areas.

Conclusions:

• Reduced auditory cortex functional connectivity is a characteristic of tinnitus.
• Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) demonstrates potential for modulating auditory network FC in tinnitus patients.