Open AccessFunctional Connectivity Networks in Nonbothersome Tinnitus
Author(s) -
Wineland Andre M.,
Burton Harold,
Piccirillo Jay
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
otolaryngology–head and neck surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.232
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1097-6817
pISSN - 0194-5998
DOI - 10.1177/0194599812451414
Subject(s) - tinnitus , interquartile range , default mode network , medicine , audiology , auditory cortex , somatosensory system , psychology , cognition , psychiatry
Objective To assess functional connectivity in cortical networks in patients with nonbothersome tinnitus compared with a normal healthy nontinnitus control group by measuring low‐frequency (<0.1 Hz) spontaneous blood oxygenation level–dependent (BOLD) signals at rest. Design Case‐control. Setting Academic medical center. Participants Nonbothersome, idiopathic subjective tinnitus for at least 6 months (n = 18) and a normal healthy nontinnitus control group (n = 23). Main Outcome Measure Functional connectivity differences in 58 a priori selected seed regions of interest encompassing cortical loci in the default mode, attention, auditory, visual, somatosensory, and cognitive networks. Results The median age of the 18 subjects was 54 years (interquartile range [IQR], 52‐57), 66% were male, 90% were white, median Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) score was 8 (IQR, 4‐14), and a median Beck Depression Index score was 1 (IQR, 0‐5). The median age for the control group was 46 years (IQR, 39‐54), and 52% were male. Of the 58 seeds analyzed, no regions had significantly different functional connectivity among the nonbothersome tinnitus group when compared with the control group. Conclusion Among nonbothersome tinnitus patients, the tinnitus percept does not appear to alter the functional connectivity of the auditory cortex or other key cortical regions. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01049828