[Electrocochleography by extra- and transtympanic methods: the results in a group of normal subjects]

Electrocochleography (ECoG) is an electrophysiologic approach to the study of hearing. In ECoG, electrical activity that originates within the cochlea or the auditory nerve is recorded. ECoG represents an evoked or stimulus dependent measure. The electrical potentials which can be analyzed in ECoG are: the cochlear microphonic potential (CM), the summating potential (SP) and the acoustic nerve potential (AP). Two major types of electrocochleography electrodes can be used, transtympanic and extratympanic. Transtympanic ECoG is performed by inserting a long needle electrode, placed through the tympanic membrane onto the promontory. Extratympanic ECoG is recorded by using electrodes placed within the external meatus near the tympanic membrane. At the ENT Department of the University of Parma, ECoG was performed in 10 normal hearing subjects (4 males and 6 females. Their ages ranged from 21 to 29 years (mean 26 years). All subjects underwent ECoG recording simultaneously with extratympanic and transtympanic technique.