A flexible research platform for multi-channel auditory steady-state response measurements

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Commercially available auditory steady-state response (ASSR) devices have limitations in flexibility and customizability.
• Restrictions include limited stimulus control, intensity levels, and multi-channel electroencephalography (EEG) data collection.
• These limitations hinder their suitability for advanced research and specific clinical diagnostic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce SOMA (Setup ORL for Multi-channel ASSR), a novel research platform for multi-channel ASSR measurements.
• To overcome the limitations of existing ASSR devices by offering flexibility and extensibility.
• To provide a mobile, high-end solution for advanced auditory response testing.

Main Methods:

• Development of a flexible hardware and software platform for ASSR measurements.
• Utilized an inexpensive multi-channel RME soundcard as the core hardware component.
• Software developed in C++ to allow for custom stimuli and real-time signal processing.
• Designed for multi-channel EEG data acquisition.

Main Results:

• The SOMA platform supports multi-channel ASSR measurements with user-defined stimuli.
• It allows for easy extension to new measurement protocols and real-time signal processing.
• An evaluation study with nine normal-hearing subjects demonstrated no significant performance differences compared to a reference system.

Conclusions:

• SOMA presents a flexible, modular, and extensible mobile platform for high-end multi-channel ASSR testing.
• The platform addresses the limitations of current commercial ASSR devices for research and clinical applications.
• It offers a cost-effective and adaptable solution for advanced auditory electrophysiology.