Conductive hearing loss results in attenuation of air conducted sound reaching the inner ear. How a change in air conducted sound alters the auditory system resulting in cortical alterations is not well understood. Here, we have assessed structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in an adult (P60) rat model of short-term conductive hearing loss (1 week). Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) revealed fractional anisotropy and axial diffusivity alterations after hearing loss that circumscribed the auditory cortex. Tractography found the lateral lemniscus tract leading to the bilateral inferior colliculus was reduced. For baseline comparison, DTI and tractography alterations were not found for the somatosensory cortex. To determine functional connectivity changes due to hearing loss, seed-based analysis (SBA) and independent component analysis (ICA) were performed. Short term conductive hearing loss altered functional connectivity in the auditory cortex and inferior colliculus, but not the somatosensory cortex. The results present an exploratory neuroimaging assessment of structural alterations coupled to a change in functional connectivity after conductive hearing loss. The results and implications for humans consist of structural-functional brain alterations following short term hearing loss in adults.

中文翻译：

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短期传导性听力损失大鼠模型的结构改变与静息状态功能连接性降低有关

传导性听力损失导致到达内耳的空气传导声音衰减。空气传导声音的变化如何改变听觉系统从而导致皮层改变尚不清楚。在这里，我们评估了短期传导性听力损失（1 周）成人 (P60) 大鼠模型的结构和功能磁共振成像 (MRI)。弥散张量成像 (DTI) 揭示了听觉皮层周围的听力损失后的分数各向异性和轴向扩散率改变。牵引术发现导致双侧下丘的外侧丘脑束减少。对于基线比较，没有发现体感皮层的 DTI 和纤维束成像改变。为了确定由于听力损失导致的功能连接变化，进行了基于种子的分析（SBA）和独立成分分析（ICA）。短期传导性听力损失会改变听觉皮层和下丘的功能连接，但不会改变躯体感觉皮层的功能连接。结果提出了对结构改变的探索性神经影像评估，这些改变与传导性听力损失后功能连接的变化有关。结果和对人类的影响包括成人短期听力损失后大脑结构功能的改变。结果提出了对结构改变的探索性神经影像评估，这些改变与传导性听力损失后功能连接的变化有关。结果和对人类的影响包括成人短期听力损失后大脑结构功能的改变。结果提出了对结构改变的探索性神经影像评估，这些改变与传导性听力损失后功能连接的变化有关。结果和对人类的影响包括成人短期听力损失后大脑结构功能的改变。