Passive music listening: A modulation of resting-state functional connectivity to better dissociate tinnitus

Abstract

Previous fMRI studies have shown tinnitus-related changes in resting-state functional connectivity (rs-fc) and have the potential for serving as biomarkers of tinnitus. In this study, we further investigated the effect of tinnitus on three intrinsic neural networks—the auditory network, the dorsal attention network (DAN), and the default mode network (DMN) while the participants were at rest or under a passive music listening condition. Our results indicated that listening to music altered the auditory network in both groups, with increased connectivity between inferior frontal gyrus and auditory areas in controls. This alternation was observed only in the patients with mild tinnitus handicap and was absent in the patients with severe tinnitus handicap. The effect of music on the DAN hinged upon hearing sensitivity: decreased connectivity between the lateral occipital cortex and the DAN, and increased connectivity between the precuneus and the DAN was observed in controls and patients with normal hearing, compared to those with hearing loss. Furthermore, passive music listening modulated the coherency of the DMN based on tinnitus status and/or hearing sensitivity. Our findings highlight the efficacy of rs-fc in dissociating the relatively heterogeneous tinnitus population and its subgroups from controls, using rest and listening to music.