Neuroanatomical alterations in middle frontal gyrus and the precuneus related to tinnitus and tinnitus distress

Rosemann, Stephanie; Rauschecker, Josef P.

doi:10.1016/j.heares.2022.108595

Cited by 16 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…Whether there is a causal relationship between these observations is currently unknown. We previously showed an interaction of MoCA scores and cortical thickness of the middle frontal gyrus indicating higher cortical thickness with lower scores in tinnitus patients but higher cortical thickness and better scores in controls (Rosemann & Rauschecker, 2022a). We further showed a relationship between cognitive abilities and resting-state functional connectivity of the default mode network and the precuneus (Rosemann & Rauschecker, 2022b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 57%

“…Of specific interest are changes in white matter pathways between the auditory cortex, nucleus accumbens and ventromedial prefrontal cortex, as these components are thought to play a causal role in a prominent frontostriatal gating model of tinnitus (Leaver et al, 2011;Rauschecker et al, 2010Rauschecker et al, , 2015. Further, we expected that decreased cognitive abilities might be related to decreased white matter morphology (FD, FC and FCD), specifically in prefrontal regions (Aldhafeeri et al, 2012;Benson et al, 2014;Rosemann & Rauschecker, 2022a). In addition, we hypothesized that tinnitus distress is correlated with FD, FC and FDC in tracts connecting amygdala, hippocampus, parahippocampus, and prefrontal cortex (Gunbey et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Increased fiber density of the fornix in patients with chronic tinnitus revealed by diffusion-weighted MRI

Rosemann¹,

Rauschecker²

2022

Preprint

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Up to 45% of the elderly population suffer from chronic tinnitus - the phantom perception of sound that is often perceived as ringing, whistling or hissing “in the ear” without external stimulation. Previous research investigated white-matter changes in tinnitus patients using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) to assess measures such as fractional anisotropy (a measure of microstructural integrity of fiber tracts) or mean diffusivity (a measure for general water diffusion). However, findings overlap only minimally and are sometimes even contradictory. We here present the first study encompassing higher diffusion data that allow to focus on changes in tissue microstructure, such as number of axons (fiber density) and macroscopic alterations, including axon diameter (fiber bundle cross section), as well as a combination of both measures. In order to deal with the crossing-fibers-problem, we applied a fixel-based analysis using a constrained spherical deconvolution signal modeling approach. We investigated differences between tinnitus patients and control participants as well as how cognitive abilities and tinnitus distress are related to changes in white matter morphology in chronic tinnitus. For that aim, 20 tinnitus patients and 20 control participants, matched in age, sex and hearing loss, underwent DWI, audiometric and cognitive assessments, and filled in questionnaires targeting anxiety and depression. Our results showed increased fiber density in the fornix in tinnitus patients compared to control participants. The fornix, as a major output pathway of the hippocampus, constitutes an important part of the limbic system. The observed changes might, therefore, reflect compensatory structural alterations related to the processing of negative emotions accompanying chronic tinnitus.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 57%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Increased fiber density of the fornix in patients with chronic tinnitus revealed by diffusion-weighted MRI

Rosemann¹,

Rauschecker²

2022

Preprint

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“…Hence, neuroanatomical as well as functional changes in the precuneus might be primarily related to increased distress from tinnitus and thereby an increased effort to decrease it. The precuneus, a medial parietal region with widespread cortical and subcortical connections, plays a central role in the modulation of conscious processes and has been found to be activated during various forms of imagery 53 . Enhanced coupling could be a sign of cross-modal plasticity (similar to that seen in deaf or blind patients) attempting to reduce the gain of the tinnitus sensation (as part of a ‘noise cancellation system’ suggested previously 42 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Disruptions of default mode network and precuneus connectivity associated with cognitive dysfunctions in tinnitus

Rosemann

Rauschecker

2023

Sci Rep

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Tinnitus is the perception of a ringing, buzzing or hissing sound “in the ear” without external stimulation. Previous research has demonstrated changes in resting-state functional connectivity in tinnitus, but findings do not overlap and are even contradictory. Furthermore, how altered functional connectivity in tinnitus is related to cognitive abilities is currently unknown. Here we investigated resting-state functional connectivity differences between 20 patients with chronic tinnitus and 20 control participants matched in age, sex and hearing loss. All participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging, audiometric and cognitive assessments, and filled in questionnaires targeting anxiety and depression. Significant differences in functional connectivity between tinnitus patients and control participants were not obtained. However, we did find significant associations between cognitive scores and functional coupling of the default mode network and the precuneus with the superior parietal lobule, supramarginal gyrus, and orbitofrontal cortex. Further, tinnitus distress correlated with connectivity between the precuneus and the lateral occipital complex. This is the first study providing evidence for disruptions of default mode network and precuneus coupling that are related to cognitive dysfunctions in tinnitus. The constant attempt to decrease the tinnitus sensation might occupy certain brain resources otherwise available for concurrent cognitive operations.

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“…Additionally, here we have intentionally focused particularly on the hippocampal system, to consider the nature of tinnitus as a persistent memory, a cognitive process in which the hippocampus/PHG are most‐commonly implicated, rather than discussing in detail other mechanisms behind tinnitus that are undoubtedly relevant. These mechanisms have implicated several other brain regions beyond the hippocampus and auditory system, including nucleus accumbens, ventromedial prefrontal cortex, thalamic reticular nucleus, middle frontal gyrus, fornix, and precuneus (Leaver et al, 2011 ; Rauschecker et al, 2010 ; Rauschecker et al, 2015 ; Rosemann & Rauschecker, 2022 ; Rosemann & Rauschecker, 2023a ; Rosemann & Rauschecker, 2023b ), cerebellum (Bauer et al, 2013 ; Mennink et al, 2022 ), insula (Chen et al, 2023 ; Lenhardt et al, 2008 ), and cingulate cortex (Chen, Liu, et al, 2018 ; Golm et al, 2013 ). These structures likely play roles in tinnitus that are not necessarily mutually exclusive, including—but not limited to—those involved in persistence of a memory trace, gating of pathological auditory activity and emotional responses to a chronic phantom percept.…”

Section: A Model For Persistent Tinnitusmentioning

confidence: 99%

What is the role of the hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus in the persistence of tinnitus?

Berger,

Billig,

Sedley

et al. 2024

Human Brain Mapping

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The hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus have been implicated as part of a tinnitus network by a number of studies. These structures are usually considered in the context of a “limbic system,” a concept typically invoked to explain the emotional response to tinnitus. Despite this common framing, it is not apparent from current literature that this is necessarily the main functional role of these structures in persistent tinnitus. Here, we highlight a different role that encompasses their most commonly implicated functional position within the brain—that is, as a memory system. We consider tinnitus as an auditory object that is held in memory, which may be made persistent by associated activity from the hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus. Evidence from animal and human studies implicating these structures in tinnitus is reviewed and used as an anchor for this hypothesis. We highlight the potential for the hippocampus/parahippocampal gyrus to facilitate maintenance of the memory of the tinnitus percept via communication with auditory cortex, rather than (or in addition to) mediating emotional responses to this percept.

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Neuroanatomical alterations in middle frontal gyrus and the precuneus related to tinnitus and tinnitus distress

Cited by 16 publications

References 66 publications

Increased fiber density of the fornix in patients with chronic tinnitus revealed by diffusion-weighted MRI

Increased fiber density of the fornix in patients with chronic tinnitus revealed by diffusion-weighted MRI

Disruptions of default mode network and precuneus connectivity associated with cognitive dysfunctions in tinnitus

What is the role of the hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus in the persistence of tinnitus?

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