Evidence of functional connectivity disruptions between auditory and non-auditory regions in adolescents living with HIV

Abstract

Children with perinatally acquired HIV (CPHIV) exhibit hearing impairments and language delays despite combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). Efficient sound processing depends on the peripheral and central auditory systems (PAS, CAS), yet studies of HIV's effects have mainly focused on the PAS. Language processing also relies on interactions between CAS and non-auditory brain regions. This study used resting-state fMRI to map functional connectivity (FC) in 11-year-old CPHIV, focusing on CAS and its links to non-auditory regions, within a Bayesian framework. Graph theory analyzed regional network properties, and relationships between FC and neurocognitive outcomes were examined. We hypothesized that CPHIV would show disrupted FC within the CAS and between CAS and non-auditory regions, altered network properties, and links between these changes and neurocognitive outcomes. Findings revealed lower FC in the primary auditory cortex (PAC) of CPHIV, with disrupted connections between CAS regions (including the PAC) and non-auditory regions such as the hippocampus, lingual gyrus, and basal ganglia. Network analysis showed reduced nodal degree and efficiency in CAS regions like the cochlear nucleus/superior olivary complex and inferior colliculus. In CPHIV, associations between middle temporal and superior frontal nodal efficiency and working memory (delayed recall) were absent. These findings highlight CAS FC alterations and network disruptions in CPHIV, linking them to hearing and language impairments. They offer insights into how HIV affects auditory and broader brain function in this population.

Competing Interest Statement

The authors have declared no competing interest.