Cochlear implant induced changes in cortical networks associated with tinnitus severity

• DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ad731d
• Publication Date: 2024-08-23T22:52:56Z
• Authors: Mehrnaz Shoushtarian; Jamal Esmaelpoor; Michelle M G Bravo; James B Fallon
• Keywords: Male; Adult; Cerebral Cortex; Auditory Cortex; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared; 0206 medical engineering; 02 engineering and technology; Middle Aged; Severity of Illness Index; Tinnitus; Cochlear Implants; Humans; Female; Nerve Net; Aged

Abstract Objective. We investigated tinnitus-related cortical networks in cochlear implant users who experience tinnitus and whose perception of changes with use their implant. Tinnitus, the unwanted sounds which are not present externally, can be a debilitating condition. In individuals implants, is known to modulate tinnitus, often improving symptoms but worsening them some cases. Little about underlying implant, lead perception. this study we whether brain turned on off, were associated perception, as rated subjectively. Approach. Using functional near-infrared spectroscopy, recorded activity at rest, from 14 experienced tinnitus. Recordings performed off on. For each condition, participants loudness annoyance using visual rating scale. Changes neural synchrony have been reported humans animal models To assess synchrony, connectivity compared two network features: node strength diversity coefficient. Main results. subjective ratings significantly correlated strength, averaged across occipital channels ( <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" overflow="scroll"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>r</mml:mi> <mml:mo>=</mml:mo> <mml:mo>−</mml:mo> <mml:mn>0.65</mml:mn> <mml:mo>,</mml:mo> <mml:mtext> </mml:mtext> </mml:mrow> <mml:mi>p</mml:mi> <mml:mn>0.01</mml:mn> </mml:math> ). both coefficient all <mml:mn>0.79</mml:mn> <mml:mo>&lt;</mml:mo> <mml:mn>0.001</mml:mn> <mml:mtext>and</mml:mtext> <mml:mn>0.86</mml:mn> More distributed on, was reduction annoyance. Significance. A better understanding mechanisms suppression use, could application treatment pave way for effective other less invasive stimulation-based treatments.