Zhang G-Y, Yang M, Liu B, Huang Z-C, Chen H, Zhang P-P, Li J, Chen J-Y, Liu L-J, Wang J, Teng G-J
Department of Radiology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecule Imaging and Functional Imaging, Medical School of Southeast University, 87 Dingjiaqiao Road, Nanjing 210009, China; Department of Radiology, Taishan Medical University, Chang Cheng Road, Hi-Tech Development Zone, Taian 271016, Shandong Province, China.
Department of Radiology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecule Imaging and Functional Imaging, Medical School of Southeast University, 87 Dingjiaqiao Road, Nanjing 210009, China.
Neuroscience. 2015 Jan 29;285:333-42. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2014.11.034. Epub 2014 Nov 26.
Hearing impairment contributes to cognitive dysfunction. Previous studies have found changes of functional connectivity in the default mode network (DMN) associated with cognitive processing in individuals with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Whereas the changes in the DMN in patients with long-term unilateral SNHL (USNHL) is still not entirely clear. In this work, we analyzed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data and neuropsychological test scores from normal hearing subjects (n = 11) and patients (n = 21) with long-term USNHL. Functional connectivity and nodal topological properties were computed for every brain region in the DMN. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and post hoc analyses were conducted to identify differences between normal controls and patients for each measure. Results indicated that the left USNHL presented enhanced connectivity (p < 0.05, false discovery rate (FDR) corrected), and significant changes (p < 0.05, Bonferroni corrected) of the nodal topological properties in the DMN compared with the control. More changes in the DMN have been found in the left than right long-term USNHL (RUSNHL). However, the neuropsychological tests did not show significant differences between the USNHL and the control. These findings suggest that long-term USNHL contributes to changes in the DMN, and these changes might affect cognitive abilities in patients with long-term USNHL. Left hearing loss affects the DMN more than the right hearing loss does. The fMRI measures might be more sensitive for observing cognitive changes in patients with hearing loss than clinical neuropsychological tests. This study provides some insights into the mechanisms of the association between hearing loss and cognitive function.
听力障碍会导致认知功能障碍。先前的研究发现，感音神经性听力损失（SNHL）患者的默认模式网络（DMN）中与认知处理相关的功能连接发生了变化。然而，长期单侧SNHL（USNHL）患者DMN的变化仍不完全清楚。在这项研究中，我们分析了正常听力受试者（n = 11）和长期USNHL患者（n = 21）的静息态功能磁共振成像（fMRI）数据和神经心理学测试分数。计算了DMN中每个脑区的功能连接和节点拓扑属性。进行协方差分析（ANCOVA）和事后分析，以确定正常对照组和患者在各项测量指标上的差异。结果表明，与对照组相比，左侧USNHL患者的DMN连接增强（p < 0.05，经错误发现率（FDR）校正），且节点拓扑属性有显著变化（p < 0.05，经Bonferroni校正）。与右侧长期USNHL（RUSNHL）相比，左侧长期USNHL患者的DMN变化更多。然而，神经心理学测试并未显示USNHL患者与对照组之间存在显著差异。这些发现表明，长期USNHL会导致DMN发生变化，这些变化可能会影响长期USNHL患者的认知能力。左侧听力损失比右侧听力损失对DMN的影响更大。与临床神经心理学测试相比，fMRI测量可能对观察听力损失患者的认知变化更敏感。本研究为听力损失与认知功能之间关联的机制提供了一些见解。
