Regional homogeneity on resting state fMRI in patients with tinnitus

ObjectiveTo study central functional network connections and their alterations in tinnitus patients using fMRI.MethodsRegional homogeneity (ReHo) values on fMRI were obtained from 18 tinnitus patients and 20 age and gender-matched control subjects. ReHo values were compared between tinnitus patients and control subjects to evaluate functional network connection differences.ResultsTinnitus patients showed increased ReHo values in gyrus frontalis inferior and decreased ReHo values in the anterior lobe of cerebellum in comparison with the controls. Analysis of functional network connection from the gyrus frontalis interior shows stronger connections to the middle brain (FWE, P < 0.001) and right ventral striatum (FEW, P < 0.05, small volume correction).ConclusionsThe fMRI results indicate that both auditory and non-auditory centers play important roles in tinnitus. Functional connections among the auditory cortex, thalamus, medial temporal gyrus, parahippocampal gyrus and insula may be an underlying cause for the development of tinnitus.