title: Auditory resting-state network connectivity in tinnitus: a functional MRI study.
abstract: The underlying functional neuroanatomy of tinnitus remains poorly understood. Few studies have focused on functional cerebral connectivity changes in tinnitus patients. The aim of this study was to test if functional MRI "resting-state" connectivity patterns in auditory network differ between tinnitus patients and normal controls. Thirteen chronic tinnitus subjects and fifteen age-matched healthy controls were studied on a 3 tesla MRI. Connectivity was investigated using independent component analysis and an automated component selection approach taking into account the spatial and temporal properties of each component. Connectivity in extra-auditory regions such as brainstem, basal ganglia/NAc, cerebellum, parahippocampal, right prefrontal, parietal, and sensorimotor areas was found to be increased in tinnitus subjects. The right primary auditory cortex, left prefrontal, left fusiform gyrus, and bilateral occipital regions showed a decreased connectivity in tinnitus. These results show that there is a modification of cortical and subcortical functional connectivity in tinnitus encompassing attentional, mnemonic, and emotional networks. Our data corroborate the hypothesized implication of non-auditory regions in tinnitus physiopathology and suggest that various regions of the brain seem involved in the persistent awareness of the phenomenon as well as in the development of the associated distress leading to disabling chronic tinnitus.
authors.affiliation: Coma Science Group, Cyclotron Research Centre, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium. amaudoux@doct.ulg.ac.be
authors.forename: Audrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maudoux
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lefebvre
authors.forename: Jean-Evrard
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Cabay
authors.forename: Athena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Demertzi
authors.forename: Audrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vanhaudenhuyse
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Laureys
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soddu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001481:Basal Metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult