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Resting-State Brain Abnormalities in Chronic Subjective Tinnitus: A Meta-Analysis
Yu-Chen Chen1, Fang Wang1, Jie Wang2
1Department of Radiology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University Nanjing, China.
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
|February 9, 2017
Summary
This meta-analysis identified common brain abnormalities in tinnitus patients. Increased activity was seen in areas like the insula and middle temporal gyrus, aiding understanding of tinnitus mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- The neural basis of tinnitus remains unclear, despite neuroimaging showing varied resting-state activity abnormalities.
- Heterogeneity in existing studies necessitates a consolidated analysis to identify core tinnitus-related brain changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies to find a common pattern of resting-state brain abnormalities in chronic tinnitus patients.
- To elucidate the neuropathophysiological mechanisms underlying tinnitus through identified neuroimaging markers.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of resting-state neuroimaging studies (SPECT, PET, fMRI) comparing tinnitus patients and controls up to September 2016.
- Extraction of significant activation coordinates from nine studies.
- Meta-analysis using the Activation Likelihood Estimation (ALE) method.
Main Results:
- Consistent increased resting-state brain activity in tinnitus patients was found bilaterally in the insula, middle temporal gyrus (MTG), inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), parahippocampal gyrus, cerebellum posterior lobe, and right superior frontal gyrus.
- Decreased brain activity was observed in the left cuneus and right thalamus.
Conclusions:
- This meta-analysis presents the first characteristic pattern of resting-state brain abnormalities in chronic tinnitus.
- These findings may serve as crucial neuroimaging markers for understanding tinnitus neuropathophysiology.
