Study of functional connectivity in patients with sensorineural hearing loss by using resting-state fMRI

Objective: To determine functional connectivity of the default mode network in patients with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in resting state. Methods: The posterior cingulate cortex was selected as a seed for assessment of functional connectivity of the activated brain areas in resting state by using a seed-based correlation analysis of the resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data. Results: The fMRI results demonstrated that, the healthy volunteers and the patients with NSHL shared certain activated brain areas with positive functional connectivity with region of interest (ROI). However, the healthy volunteers also had positive functional connectivity with ROI in bilateral middle temporal gyrus, left anterior cingulate cortex, right inferior parietal lobule and left medial superior frontal gyrus. While the patients with SNHL did with bilateral inferior parietal lobule, left medial superior frontal gyrus, right supramarginal gyrus, and left middle temporal gyrus. Compared to controls, patients with SNHL showed increased functional connectivity in the right posterior frontal lobe, right precentral gyrus, right supramarginal gyrus and left posterior cingulate cortex, and had decreased functional connectivity in the left lingual gyrus, right cuneus lobe and right superior frontal gyrus. Conclusion: The posterior cingulate cortex, precuneus lobe, medial frontal gyrus, anterior cingulate cortex, temporal lobe, angular gyrus and inferior parietal lobule constitute a default mode of network in normal resting status. And patients with SNHL have abnormal functional connectivity of default mode network and cortical reorganisation in resting status.