Several studies have been carried out to verify neural plasticity and the language process in deaf individuals. However, further investigations regarding the intrinsic brain organization on functional and structural neural networks derived from congenital deafness is still an open question. The objective of this study was to investigate the main differences in brain organization manifested in deaf individuals, concerning the resting-state functional patterns, and white matter structuring. Functional and diffusiontensor magnetic resonance imaging modalities were acquired from 18 congenitally deaf individuals and 18 age-sex-matched hearing controls. Compared to the hearing group, the deaf individuals presented higher functional connectivity (FC) among the posterior cingulate cortex node of the default mode network (DMN) with visual and motor networks, lower FC between salience networks, language networks, and prominence of functional connectivity changes in the right hemisphere, mostly in the frontoparietal and temporal lobes. In terms of structural connectivity (SC), we found changes mainly in the occipital and parietal lobes, involving both classical sign language support regions as well as concentrated networks for focus activity, attention, and cognitive ltering. Our ndings elucidate the general brain network modi cations, contributing to a better understanding of brain plasticity driven by deafness.

Several studies have been carried out to verify neural plasticity and the language process in deaf individuals. However, further investigations regarding the intrinsic brain organization on functional and structural neural networks derived from congenital deafness is still an open question. The objective of this study was to investigate the main differences in brain organization manifested in deaf individuals, concerning the resting-state functional patterns, and white matter structuring. Functional and diffusion-tensor magnetic resonance imaging modalities were acquired from 18 congenitally deaf individuals and 18 age-sex-matched hearing controls. Compared to the hearing group, the deaf individuals presented higher functional connectivity (FC) among the posterior cingulate cortex node of the default mode network (DMN) with visual and motor networks, lower FC between salience networks, language networks, and prominence of functional connectivity changes in the right hemisphere, mostly in the frontoparietal and temporal lobes. In terms of structural connectivity (SC), we found changes mainly in the occipital and parietal lobes, involving both classical sign language support regions as well as concentrated networks for focus activity, attention, and cognitive filtering. Our findings elucidate the general brain network modifications, contributing to a better understanding of brain plasticity driven by deafness.

visão clínica e em pesquisa 2 frequências, sendo estas usualmente aplicadas sobre as faixas de 500 Hz, 1 kHz, 2 kHz. Assim, os limiares podem ser denidos como: Audição Normal: Limiares auditivos entre 0-25dB Perda auditiva Leve: Limiares auditivos entre 26-40dB Perda auditiva Moderada: Limiares auditivos entre 41-55dB Perda auditiva Moderadamente Severa: Limiares auditivos entre 56-70dB Perda auditiva Severa: Limiares auditivos entre 71-90dB Perda auditiva Profunda: Limiares auditivos acima de 91dB Com relação a localização da lesão, a alteração auditiva pode ser classicada como tendo caráter condutivo, neurossensorial, misto ou central. Para tal classicação, consideramos a descrição com base nos autores Silman e Silverman [3], assim como descrita a seguir: Condutiva: Está localizada no ouvido externo e/ou ouvido médio, sendo em sua maioria reversíveis após o tratamento especíco. Neste caso, obtemos os limiares de via óssea menores ou iguais a 15 dB NA e limiares de via aérea maiores que 25 dB NA, com gap aéreo-ósseo maior ou igual a 15 dB. Neurossensorial: Perda de audição decorrente de alterações no ouvido interno (cóclea ou em bras do nervo auditivo) de caráter irreversível. Em avaliação audiológica obtemos os limiares de via óssea maiores do que 15 dB NA e limiares de via aérea maiores que 25 dB NA, com gap aéreo-ósseo de até 10 dB. Mista: Quando a alteração auditiva está localizada no ouvido externo e/ou médio e também no ouvido interno. Se enquadram nesta categoria as perdas auditivas que apresentam limiares de via óssea maiores do que 15 dB NA e limiares de via aérea maiores que 25 dB NA, com gap aéreo-ósseo maior ou igual a 15 dB.