Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan 430022, China.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China.
Brain Res. 2024 Feb 1;1824:148677. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2023.148677. Epub 2023 Nov 17.
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) constitutes an urgent otologic emergency, marked by a rapid decline of at least 30 dB across three consecutive frequencies within 72 h. While previous studies have noted brain region alterations encompassing both auditory and non-auditory areas, this research examines functional connectivity changes across integrity, network, and edge levels in SSNHL. The cohort included 184 participants: 107 SSNHL patients and 77 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Our investigation comprises: (1) characterization of overall functional connectivity degree across 55 nodes in nine networks (p < 0.05, corrected for false discovery rate), exposing integrity level changes; (2) identification of reduced intranetwork connectivity strength within sensory and attention networks (somatomotor network, auditory network, ventral attention network, dorsal attention network) in SSNHL individuals (p < 0.05, Bonferroni corrected), and reduced internetwork connectivity across twelve distinct subnetwork pairs (p < 0.05, FDR corrected); (3) revelation of increased internetwork connectivity in SSNHL patients, primarily spanning dorsal attention network, fronto parietal network, default mode network, and limbic network, alongside widespread reductions in connectivity patterns among the nine distinct resting-state brain networks. The study further uncovers negative correlations between SSNHL duration and intranetwork connectivity of the auditory network (p < 0.001, R = -0.474), and between Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) scores and internetwork connections linking auditory network and dorsal attention network (p < 0.001, R = -0.331). These observed alterations provide crucial insights into the neural mechanisms underpinning SSNHL and extend our comprehension of the brain's network-level responses to sensory loss. By unveiling the intricate interplay between sensory deprivation, adaptation, and cognitive processes, this study lays the groundwork for future research targeting enhanced diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation approaches for individuals afflicted by SSNHL.
突发性聋（SSNHL）是一种紧急的耳科急症，其特征是在 72 小时内至少有三个连续频率的听力损失下降 30dB 以上。虽然之前的研究已经注意到包括听觉和非听觉区域在内的大脑区域改变，但本研究检查了 SSNHL 中在完整性、网络和边缘水平上的功能连接变化。该队列包括 184 名参与者：107 名 SSNHL 患者和 77 名年龄和性别匹配的健康对照者。我们的研究包括：（1）在 9 个网络中的 55 个节点中描述整个功能连接程度（p<0.05，经假发现率校正），揭示完整性水平的变化；（2）在 SSNHL 个体中发现感觉和注意力网络内（躯体感觉网络、听觉网络、腹侧注意网络、背侧注意网络）的内网络连接强度降低（p<0.05，Bonferroni 校正），以及在 12 个不同子网对之间的互联网连接减少（p<0.05，FDR 校正）；（3）揭示 SSNHL 患者的互联网连接增加，主要跨越背侧注意网络、额顶网络、默认模式网络和边缘网络，同时在九个不同静息态大脑网络中的连接模式广泛减少。该研究还揭示了 SSNHL 持续时间与听觉网络内网络连接之间的负相关（p<0.001，R=-0.474），以及耳鸣残疾量表（THI）评分与连接听觉网络和背侧注意网络的互联网连接之间的负相关（p<0.001，R=-0.331）。这些观察到的改变为理解 SSNHL 背后的神经机制提供了重要的见解，并扩展了我们对大脑对感觉丧失的网络水平反应的理解。通过揭示感觉剥夺、适应和认知过程之间的复杂相互作用，本研究为针对 SSNHL 患者的增强诊断、治疗和康复方法的未来研究奠定了基础。
