Music Combined with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Enhanced Functional Integration within the Frontal–Parietal–Temporal Brain Network in Patients with Chronic Subjective Tinnitus

Background This study was aimed at investigating the effectiveness of music combined with cognitive behavioral therapy (music-CBT) and its underlying therapeutic mechanisms in treating chronic subjective tinnitus. Methods Twenty-seven participants with chronic subjective tinnitus who underwent a 3-month music-CBT were initially involved in this retrospective study. The resting-state electroencephalograms (EEG) and behavioral assessments of pre- and post-music-CBT, including tinnitus handicap inventory (THI), tinnitus functional index (TFI), visual analog scales (VAS), Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), and Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD-24) were collected and analyzed. Results Following music-CBT, there was a significant reduction in global behavioral assessment scores, with median changes of ΔTHI = 26.0 ( p < 0.001), ΔTFI = 23.7 ( p < 0.001), ΔVAS = 2.0 ( p < 0.001), ΔPSQI = 2.0 ( p = 0.002), and ΔHAMD-24 = 2.0 ( p < 0.001). Enhanced functional connectivity was seen among the frontal, parietal, and temporal cortices and significantly decreased characteristic path length (ΔCPL in delta = 0.016, p = 0.031; ΔCPL in theta = 0.012, p = 0.013), increased global efficiency (ΔGE in delta = −0.014, p = 0.037; ΔGE in theta = −0.006, p = 0.021), and local efficiency (ΔLE in delta = −0.015, p = 0.037; ΔLE in theta = −0.012, p = 0.015) were also noted. Additionally, associations were identified between ΔPSQI and ΔTHI (rho = 0.546, p = 0.003) and ΔTFI (rho = 0.462, p = 0.015); between ΔHAMD-24 and ΔCPL (rho = −0.389, p = 0.045), ΔGE (rho = 0.395, p = 0.041), and ΔLE (rho = 0.405, p = 0.036). Conclusion Optimized cognitive and emotional responses to tinnitus are linked to functional integration within the frontal–parietal–temporal brain network. Early node indicators for tinnitus relief may be the precuneus, middle frontal gyrus, middle temporal gyrus, and the right inferior parietal lobule.