This study aimed to characterize resting-state functional differences across clinically defined bothersome tinnitus, non-bothersome tinnitus, and hospital-based non-tinnitus control groups, focusing on imaging differences related to tinnitus phenotype.
No actionable change yet — findings are characterization-level neuroimaging data that may eventually inform tinnitus subtyping and targeted therapy, but do not currently alter clinical management.
Identifying distinct brain connectivity signatures for bothersome versus non-bothersome tinnitus could lay groundwork for precision tinnitus treatments and better patient stratification.
- 01Resting-state fMRI used to compare bothersome tinnitus, non-bothersome tinnitus, and healthy controls.
- 02Significant differences in functional connectivity and local brain activity found between phenotypes.
- 03Results support a neurobiological basis for why some people find tinnitus distressing and others do not.
- 04Published in Frontiers in Neurology; adds to growing neuroimaging literature on tinnitus subtypes.
- 05Findings are preliminary and require replication in larger, prospective cohorts.
Bothersome and non-bothersome tinnitus phenotypes show distinct resting-state functional connectivity patterns.
studypartially supportedLocal brain activity differences exist between bothersome tinnitus, non-bothersome tinnitus, and control groups.
studypartially supported- PMID
- 42369362
- DOI
- 10.3389/fneur.2026.1831863.
- Journal
- Frontiers in Neurology
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 3
- Population
- Adults with bothersome tinnitus, non-bothersome tinnitus, and healthy controls
- Intervention
- Resting-state fMRI neuroimaging characterization
- Comparator
- Non-bothersome tinnitus group and healthy controls
Primary outcomes
Resting-state functional connectivity differences across tinnitus phenotypes; Local brain activity differences (e.g., amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations) across groups