title: Auditory network connectivity in tinnitus patients: a resting-state fMRI study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) uncovers correlated activity between spatially distinct functionally related brain regions and offers clues about the integrity of functional brain circuits in people with chronic subjective tinnitus. We chose to investigate auditory network connectivity, adopting and extending previously used analyses methods to provide an independent evaluation of replicability.
  
  
  METHODS
  Independent components analysis (ICA) was used to identify coherent patterns arising from spontaneous brain signals within the resting-state data. The auditory network component was extracted and evaluated. Bivariate and partial correlation analyses were performed on pre-defined regions of bilateral auditory cortex to assess functional connectivity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our design carefully matched participant groups for possible confounds, such as hearing status. Twelve patients (seven male, five female; mean age 66 years) all with chronic constant tinnitus and eleven controls (eight male, three female; mean age 68 years) took part.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences were found in auditory network connectivity between groups after correcting for multiple statistical comparisons in the analysis. This contradicts previous findings reporting reduced auditory network connectivity; albeit at a less stringent statistical threshold.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Auditory network connectivity does not appear to be reliably altered by the experience of chronic subjective tinnitus.
authors.affiliation: * NIHR Nottingham Hearing Biomedical Research Unit, University of Nottingham , UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Gander
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Hall
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001303:Auditory Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001306:Auditory Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology