Tinnitus distress is associated with enhanced resting-state functional connectivity within the default mode network

Chen, Yu‐Chen; Chen, Huiyou; Fan, Bo; Xǔ, Jǐnjīng; Deng, Yi; Lv, Han; Cai, Yixi; Xia, Wenqing; Yin, Xindao; Gu, Jiaxi; Lu, Guangming

doi:10.2147/ndt.s164619

Cited by 31 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 77 publications

(83 reference statements)

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“…Previous studies on tinnitus have provided evidence for decreased functional connectivity in the default mode network (DMN) (Husain and Schmidt, 2014; Chen et al, 2015, 2018a; Hinkley et al, 2015; Schmidt et al, 2017). In addition, in patients with chronic tinnitus, abnormal functional connectivity in limbic–auditory circuits plays a pivotal role in pathogenesis (Rauschecker et al, 2010; Leaver et al, 2011; Gunbey et al, 2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chronic Tinnitus Exhibits Bidirectional Functional Dysconnectivity in Frontostriatal Circuit

et al. 2019

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PurposeThe phantom sound of tinnitus is considered to be associated with abnormal functional coupling between the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and the prefrontal cortex, which may form a frontostriatal top-down gating system to evaluate and modulate sensory signals. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to recognize the aberrant directional connectivity of the NAc in chronic tinnitus and to ascertain the relationship between this connectivity and tinnitus characteristics.MethodsParticipants included chronic tinnitus patients (n = 50) and healthy controls (n = 55), matched for age, sex, education, and hearing thresholds. The hearing status of both groups was comparable. On the basis of the NAc as a seed region, a Granger causality analysis (GCA) study was conducted to investigate the directional connectivity and the relationship with tinnitus duration or distress.ResultsCompared with healthy controls, tinnitus patients exhibited abnormal directional connectivity between the NAc and the prefrontal cortex, principally the middle frontal gyrus (MFG), orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), and inferior frontal gyrus (IFG). Additionally, positive correlations between tinnitus handicap questionnaire (THQ) scores and increased directional connectivity from the right NAc to the left MFG (r = 0.357, p = 0.015) and from the right MFG to the left NAc (r = 0.626, p < 0.001) were observed. Furthermore, the enhanced directional connectivity from the right NAc to the right OFC was positively associated with the duration of tinnitus (r = 0.599, p < 0.001).ConclusionIn concurrence with expectations, tinnitus distress was correlated with enhanced directional connectivity between the NAc and the prefrontal cortex. The current study not only helps illuminate the neural basis of the frontostriatal gating control of tinnitus sensation but also contributes to deciphering the neuropathological features of tinnitus.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chronic Tinnitus Exhibits Bidirectional Functional Dysconnectivity in Frontostriatal Circuit

et al. 2019

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“…Resting-state fMRI has been widely used to detect intrinsic neuro-pathophysiological mechanisms in terms of aberrant neural activity and brain functional connectivity (FC) changes in various neurological related disorders, such as chronic tinnitus, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson ( Chen et al, 2018b , c , d ). Resting-state fMRI measurement is based on the low-frequency (0.01–0.1 Hz) fluctuations in blood-oxygenation-level dependent (BOLD) signals, and thus regional homogeneity (ReHo) can be applied to demonstrate abnormal neural coherence across the whole brain, by quantifying the local synchronization within adjacent voxels during resting state ( Zang et al, 2004 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aberrant Functional and Causal Connectivity in Acute Tinnitus With Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Cai

Xie

et al. 2020

Front. Neurosci.

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The neural bases in acute tinnitus remains largely undetected. The objective of this study was to identify the alteration of the brain network involved in patients with acute tinnitus and hearing loss. Methods: Acute tinnitus patients (n = 24) with hearing loss and age-, sex-, education-matched healthy controls (n = 21) participated in the current study and underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning. Regional homogeneity and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation were used to investigate the local spontaneous neural activity and functional connectivity (FC), and Granger causality analysis (GCA) was used to analyze the undirected and directed connectivity of brain regions. Results: Compared with healthy subjects, acute tinnitus patients had a general reduction in FC between auditory and non-auditory brain regions. Based on FC analysis, the superior temporal gyrus (STG) revealed reduced undirected connectivity with nonauditory brain regions including the amygdala (AMYG), nucleus accumbens (NAc), the cerebellum, and postcentral gyrus (PoCG). Using the GCA algorithm, increased effective connectivity from the right AMYG to the right STG, and reduced connectivity from the right PoCG to the left NAc was observed in acute tinnitus patients with hearing loss. The pure-tone threshold was positively correlated with FC between the AMYG and STG, and negatively correlated with FC between the left NAc and the right PoCG. In addition, a negative association between the GCA value from the right PoCG to the left NAc and the THI scores was observed. Conclusion: Acute tinnitus patients have aberrant FC strength and causal connectivity in both the auditory and non-auditory cortex, especially in the STG, AMYG, and NAc. The current findings will provide a new perspective for understanding the neuropathophysiological mechanism in acute tinnitus.

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“…On the other hand, non-bothersome tinnitus is considered to not significantly affect the FC pattern [ 60 ]. Tinnitus-related distress is thought to be positively associated with increased FC between the posterior cingulate cortex and right medial prefrontal cortex belonging to the default mode network (DMN) [ 52 ] that is typically engaged at rest and suppressed during performance of a mental task [ 62 ], or with enhances connectivity of the superior temporal gyrus with the amygdala within one hemisphere (right or left), which suggests a role for interaction between the auditory and limbic networks in emotional reaction to tinnitus [ 53 ]. There is also evidence of a positive correlation between tinnitus-related distress and FC of the right superior temporal gyrus and the cerebellum, which might reflect a dysfunctional filtering of unpleasant sounds [ 55 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electrophysiological correlates of focused attention on low- and high-distressed tinnitus

et al. 2020

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Objectives The study aimed at determining the EEG correlates of concentration on either low or high-distressed tinnitus. Methods Sixty-seven patients (36 women, mean age = 50.34 ± 12.94 years) with chronic tinnitus were assigned to either a high (HD) or low (LD) tinnitus-related distress group based on THI results. All participants took part in the EEG study comprising two 3–4 min blocks of focusing on either tinnitus (Tinnitus Focus Condition, TFC) or the sensations from one’s own body (Body Focus Condition, BFC). The absolute power and current density of 8 frequency bands in 7 clusters were compared between conditions and groups. Results The most pronounced differences were found in the HD patients in the TFC, relative to the BFC, i.e. reduced power of frontally distributed low alpha (8–10 Hz) and posterior high alpha (10–12 Hz) as well as lower current density of 8–10 Hz rhythm over the right frontal/anterior cingulate cortex and higher middle beta (15–18 Hz) density in the precuneus. The HD, relative to LD patients, in both conditions, exhibited increased low beta (12–15 Hz) power over the left middle area and greater higher beta (15–25 Hz) power in the left posterior region. Conclusions The present study contrasted bioelectrical activity, acquired when concentrating on tinnitus with EEG data collected whilst patients focused on their body. Decreased alpha power and current density in the frontal/cingulate cortex when listening to bothersome tinnitus might reflect greater cortical arousal whereas increased beta power and density in the precuneus/posterior cingulate activity in this condition could be indicative for elevated tension or augmented cognitive/emotional processing of tinnitus sound. Enhanced beta rhythm in patients with high versus low tinnitus distress, observed independently of the study condition, may be due to greater self-focused attention or more active processing of sensations derived from the own body.

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Tinnitus distress is associated with enhanced resting-state functional connectivity within the default mode network

Cited by 31 publications

References 77 publications

Chronic Tinnitus Exhibits Bidirectional Functional Dysconnectivity in Frontostriatal Circuit

Chronic Tinnitus Exhibits Bidirectional Functional Dysconnectivity in Frontostriatal Circuit

Aberrant Functional and Causal Connectivity in Acute Tinnitus With Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Electrophysiological correlates of focused attention on low- and high-distressed tinnitus

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