Graph analysis based on SCN reveals novel neuroanatomical targets related to tinnitus distress

PurposeTinnitus is considered a neurological disorder affecting both auditory and nonauditory networks. This study aimed to investigate the structural brain covariance network in tinnitus patients and analyze its altered topological properties.MaterialsFifty three primary tinnitus patients and 67 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs) were included. Gray matter volume (GMV) of each participant was extracted using voxel-based morphometry, a group-level structural covariance network (SCN) was constructed based on the GMV of each participant, and graph theoretic analyses were performed using graph analysis toolbox (GAT). The differences in the topological properties of SCN between both groups were compared and analyzed.ResultsBoth groups exhibited small-world attributes. Compared with HCs, tinnitus patients had significantly higher characteristic path length, lambda, transitivity, and assortativity (p