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A large-scale diffusion imaging study of tinnitus and hearing loss
Rafay A Khan1,2, Bradley P Sutton1,3, Yihsin Tai1,4,5
1Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
Scientific Reports
|December 4, 2021
Summary
Chronic tinnitus, often linked to hearing loss, involves distinct white matter changes in the brain. These neural network alterations suggest specific pathways are involved in tinnitus and its comorbidities.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Audiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Subjective, chronic tinnitus is a complex auditory disorder often co-occurring with comorbidities like hearing loss.
- Understanding the neural underpinnings of tinnitus is challenging due to its association with other conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the white matter structural connectivity differences associated with tinnitus and hearing loss.
- To explore how these conditions, individually and combined, affect brain networks.
Main Methods:
- Diffusion imaging data from 96 participants (tinnitus with hearing loss, tinnitus with normal hearing, controls with hearing loss, controls with normal hearing) were analyzed.
- Fractional anisotropy (FA) and probabilistic tractography were used to assess white matter integrity and structural connectivity.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in FA and structural connectivity were observed, specific to tinnitus, hearing loss, and their comorbidity.
- Findings suggest the existence of tinnitus-specific neural networks.
- Age influences neural plasticity but did not impact network integration or segregation measures in tractography.
Conclusions:
- The study identifies distinct white matter correlates for tinnitus and hearing loss, both individually and comorbidly.
- An updated model of tinnitus is proposed, highlighting the roles of the internal capsule and corpus callosum in tinnitus evaluation and neural plasticity.
