The Neural Correlates of Central Auditory Dysfunction in Chronic Tinnitus: A Multimodal Approach

It was aimed at assessing the connection between tinnitus and central auditory dysfunction using both central auditory tests (CATs) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) for brain regions that are crucial for central auditory processing.

This prospective case-control study included 15 patients with persistent tinnitus and 20 healthy volunteers as controls. They underwent CATs for memory, attention, and DTI. The Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) Questionnaire was applied as well. From several brain regions, the values of mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) were determined.

Comparing both groups, the tinnitus group showed statistically worse values as regards the CATs (memory for content, sequence memory, speech perception in noise (SPIN) at different signal-to-noise ratios, "SNRs") compared with the control group. As regards DTI, the tinnitus group showed decreased FA in several brain areas, including the cingulum, prefrontal-cortex (PFC), insula, and hippocampus. Furthermore, the tinnitus group showed significantly higher MD in the cingulum, BA-46, and amygdala compared with the control group. FA values of BA-46 were positively correlated with the SPIN-SNR^-10 scores. Also, FA values of the middle cingulum were positively correlated with SPIN-SNR^zero scores. MD values at BA-46 were negatively correlated with SPIN-SNR^-10. THI scores were negatively correlated with FA at BA-46; however, they were positively correlated with MD at the amygdala.

Central auditory dysfunction may be linked to the underlying neurophysiological changes in chronic tinnitus.

2 Laryngoscope, 135:316-323, 2025.