Abnormal Structural and Functional Connectivity Coupling in Patients With Chronic Tinnitus

Motivation: Motivation: Tinnitus research often overlooks the interaction between structural and functional brain networks, focusing primarily on single-modality imaging. Goal(s): Goal: We aimed to investigate the role of structural connectivity and functional connectivity (SC-FC) coupling in the neural mechanisms underlying chronic tinnitus. Approach: Approach: We compared SC-FC coupling between patients with chronic tinnitus and matched healthy controls using resting-state functional MRI and diffusion tensor imaging data to investigate connectivity differences. Results: Results: Patients with tinnitus showed altered SC-FC coupling in key auditory and sensory integration regions, with some couplings correlating with tinnitus severity. Impact: Our findings revealed specific SC-FC coupling alterations in patients with tinnitus, offering potential biomarkers for assessing severity and providing insights into neural mechanisms that could guide future intervention strategies.