The Alteration of Brain Network Topology in Tinnitus Transition From Recent-Onset to Chronic

The occurrence and persistence of tinnitus result from the interaction of multiple neural networks. This study aims to explore the alterations in brain network topology associated with the transition of tinnitus from recent-onset to chronic. Twenty-eight patients with chronic tinnitus, 28 patients with recent-onset tinnitus and 28 sex- and age-matched healthy controls (HC) were enrolled in this study. We performed a graph theory analysis to identify aberrant brain network topologies and calculated the correlation between differential brain regions and clinical indicators. Compared with the recent-onset tinnitus group, patients with chronic tinnitus showed decreased global efficiency (Eg, decreased by 3.7%, p < 0.001), local efficiency (Eloc, decreased by 1.8%, p = 0.031) and small-worldness (decreased by 13.8%, p = 0.007) and increased characteristic path length (Lp, increased by 6.8%, p = 0.001). Additionally, ANOVA revealed significant differences in the AUC of degree centrality (DC), nodal efficiency (Ne), nodal clustering coefficient (NCp) and nodal local efficiency (Nle) among the three groups in brain regions such as the superior temporal gyrus, inferior temporal gyrus, anterior cingulate cortex, precuneus, middle occipital gyrus, inferior occipital gyrus, fusiform gyrus, cuneus and putamen (q < 0.05, FDR corrected). Notably, several of these regions were associated with tinnitus duration, distress and loudness. The topological properties of several brain networks were altered in patients with chronic tinnitus compared to those with recent-onset tinnitus, providing new insights into the neural mechanisms of tinnitus chronification. These findings could inform the development of targeted interventions aimed at mitigating the progression from recent-onset to chronic tinnitus.