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Differences in brain functional connectivity between tinnitus with or without hearing loss.
Jianxiong Song1,2, Yuanyuan Wang3, Fang Ouyang4
1Department of Cariology and Endodontics, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University.
Neuroreport
|June 3, 2024
Summary
Tinnitus with hearing loss (HL) and without HL exhibit distinct brain functional connectivity (FC) patterns. Abnormal thalamic FC is crucial in tinnitus development, differing between hearing loss statuses.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Medical Imaging
- Audiology
Background:
- Tinnitus, a phantom auditory perception, affects millions globally.
- Understanding the neural underpinnings of tinnitus, particularly in relation to hearing loss (HL), is critical for developing targeted therapies.
- Functional connectivity (FC) alterations in the brain are implicated in tinnitus pathophysiology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in brain functional connectivity (FC) in individuals with tinnitus, comparing those with and without hearing loss (HL).
- To explore the role of the thalamus in tinnitus pathogenesis by analyzing its functional connectivity with other brain regions.
- To correlate brain imaging findings with clinical tinnitus severity and duration.
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was employed to acquire brain scans.
- Participants included 26 tinnitus patients with HL (tinnitus-HL), 24 tinnitus patients without HL (tinnitus-NHL), and 26 healthy controls (HCs).
- Thalamus was used as a seed region to analyze whole-brain endogenous FC, with correlations to clinical indices.
Main Results:
- Significant FC differences were observed in the Heschl gyrus (HES), Hippocampus (HIP), Amygdala (AMYG), and Calcarine cortex (CAL) among the groups.
- Tinnitus-NHL showed enhanced thalamic connections to HIP and lingual gyrus (LING) compared to tinnitus-HL.
- Tinnitus-NHL exhibited increased thalamic connectivity to the inferior occipital gyrus, CAL, and LING compared to HCs.
- Tinnitus-HL displayed weakened thalamic connections to HES and AMYG compared to HCs.
- Tinnitus severity correlated positively with FC between the left thalamus and right HES, and between the right thalamus and right Rolandic operculum.
- Tinnitus duration negatively correlated with FC between the right thalamus and right HIP.
Conclusions:
- Abnormal functional connectivity (FC) involving the thalamus is a key factor in tinnitus development.
- Distinct patterns of thalamic FC in tinnitus with and without hearing loss (HL) suggest differing underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.
- These findings highlight the importance of considering hearing status when examining the neural basis of tinnitus.
