Cortical reorganization after acute unilateral hearing loss traced by fMRI

Neurology. 2000 Feb 8;54(3):765-7. doi: 10.1212/wnl.54.3.765.

Abstract

Unilateral acoustic stimulation produces a functional MRI (fMRI)-blood-oxygenation-level-dependent (BOLD) response mainly in the contralateral auditory cortex. In unilateral deaf patients, the BOLD response is bilateral. We studied a subject with sudden hearing loss after cochlear nerve resection before and repeatedly after surgery. During normal bilateral hearing, contralateral cortical BOLD responses were found. Progressing compensatory reorganization with bilateral representation of unilateral stimulation was detected over a period of approximately 1 year.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Audiometry, Pure-Tone
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Brain / physiopathology
  • Deafness / pathology*
  • Deafness / physiopathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Middle Aged