Abstract
Objective: To capture resting state functional connectivity in a group of nonbothered tinnitus patients in order to assess the impact of tinnitus in cortical neuroplasticity.
Method: Cross-sectional study to examine differences in functional connectivity (FC) in a nonbothered tinnitus group compared to a healthy control group. Enrollment ranged from October 2010 to April 2011. Tinnitus participants were recruited from Washington University. FC differences between the 2 groups were studied by examing 58 seed regions of interest.
Results: The median age for the 18 subjects was 54 years (interquartile range [IQR] 52 to 57), 66% were men, 90% were white, median Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) score was 8 (IQR 4 to 14), and a median Beck Depression Index score of 1 (IQR 0 to 5). The median age for the control group was 46 (IQR 39 to 54) and 52% were men. Of the 58 seeds analyzed, no regions were significantly different in functional connectivity among the nonbothered tinnitus group when compared to the control group.
Conclusion: Among non-bothered tinnitus patients, the tinnitus percept does not appear to alter the functional connectivity of the auditory corte or other key cortical regions.
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