Structural changes in auditory and language-processing cortices and thalamus are predictors of word recognition ability after cochlear implantation

Long-term hearing loss may lead structural changes in brain cortices. These alterations may affect language outcome of the cochlear implant (CI) surgery. We aimed to predict the surgery outcome using imaging features of such cortical structural changes. We individually calculated GM density maps. We applied a random-forest regression to the GM density map and clinical variables, and found the competence of the imaging features in CI outcome prediction. The most accurate prediction was made with GM density changes in the middle temporal cortex, a critical network node of language processing, and in the thalamus, a structure (de-)coupling cortical language operations.