Structural and Functional MRI-Based Neuroimaging in Tinnitus

Tinnitus, or the perception of phantom sound, affects millions of individuals worldwide. Tinnitus is characterized by a specific loudness, inducing emotional, autonomic, and cognitive responses. It can become chronic and be associated with suffering, resulting in tinnitus disorder. Tinnitus disorder is characterized by emotional, autonomic, and cognitive dysfunctioning. Structural and functional neuroimaging approaches have advanced the understanding of tinnitus pathology and its comorbidity. Here, we will discuss various neuroimaging studies that observe neuroanatomical and neurophysiological dysfunction in both auditory and non-auditory regions in patients with chronic tinnitus. We then extend this evidence to proposed models that aim to delineate dysfunctional interactions between whole brain networks that may ascribe complex tinnitus characteristics such as chronification and cognitive dysfunction. Network-based models can provide a testbed for evaluation and develop a foundation for future studies to capture the full portrayal of chronic tinnitus in the clinic.