Dynamic functional network connectivity in children with profound bilateral congenital sensorineural hearing loss

Background

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have revealed extensive functional reorganization in patients with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). However, almost no study focuses on the dynamic functional connectivity after hearing loss.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate dynamic functional connectivity changes in children with profound bilateral congenital SNHL under the age of 3 years.

Materials and methods

Thirty-two children with profound bilateral congenital SNHL and 24 children with normal hearing were recruited for the present study. Independent component analysis identified 18 independent components composing five resting-state networks. A sliding window approach was used to acquire dynamic functional matrices. Three states were identified using the k-means algorithm. Then, the differences in temporal properties and the variance of network efficiency between groups were compared.

Results

The children with SNHL showed longer mean dwell time and decreased functional connectivity between the auditory network and sensorimotor network in state 3 (P < 0.05), which was characterized by relatively stronger functional connectivity between high-order resting-state networks and motion and perception networks. There was no difference in the variance of network efficiency.

Conclusions

These results indicated the functional reorganization due to hearing loss. This study also provided new perspectives for understanding the state-dependent connectivity patterns in children with SNHL.

Graphical Abstract