Abstract：
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have revealed a functional reorganization in patients with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). The structural basement of functional changes has also been investigated recently. Graph theory analysis brings a new understanding of the structural connectome and topological features in central neural system diseases. However, little is known about the structural network connectome changes in SNHL patients, especially in children. We explored the differences in topologic organization, rich-club organization, and structural connection between children with congenital bilateral profound SNHL and normal hearing under the age of three using graph theory analysis and probabilistic tractography. Compared with the normal-hearing (NH) group, the SNHL group showed no difference in global and nodal topological parameters. Increased structural connection strength were found in the right cortico-striatal-thalamus-cortical circuity. Decreased cross-hemisphere connections were found between the right precuneus and the left auditory cortex as well as the left subcortical regions. Rich-club organization analysis found increased local connection in the SNHL group. These results revealed structural organizations after hearing deprivation in congenital bilateral profound SNHL children.
摘要：
功能磁共振成像（fMRI）研究揭示了感音神经性听力损失（SNHL）患者的功能重组。最近还研究了功能变化的结构基础。图论分析为中枢神经系统疾病的结构连接组和拓扑特征带来了新的理解。然而,对SNHL患者的结构网络连接体变化知之甚少，尤其是儿童。我们探索了拓扑组织的差异，富人俱乐部组织,使用图论分析和概率纤维束成像技术，将先天性双侧深度SNHL儿童与3岁以下正常听力之间的结构联系。与听力正常(NH)组相比,SNHL组的全局和节点拓扑参数没有差异。在右皮质-纹状体-丘脑-皮质回路中发现结构连接强度增加。在右前叶和左听觉皮层以及左皮层下区域之间发现了减少的跨半球连接。丰富的俱乐部组织分析发现，SNHL组织中的本地连接有所增加。这些结果揭示了先天性双侧深度SNHL儿童听力剥夺后的结构组织。
