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A Method for Tracking the Time Evolution of Steady-State Evoked Potentials
Published on: May 25, 2019
The effect of changes in stimulus level on electrically evoked cortical auditory potentials
Jae-Ryong Kim1, Carolyn J Brown, Paul J Abbas
1Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA.
Ear and Hearing
|March 27, 2009
Summary
The electrically evoked acoustic change complex (EACC) can assess cochlear implant (CI) users' sensitivity to sound level changes. EACC amplitude correlates with stimulus change magnitude and neural response growth, potentially aiding CI programming.
Area of Science:
- Auditory Neuroscience
- Biomedical Engineering
- Clinical Audiology
Background:
- Cochlear implants (CIs) restore hearing but optimizing sound processing remains challenging.
- Assessing neural responses to changes in stimulus level is crucial for effective CI function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the electrically evoked acoustic change complex (EACC) as a measure of stimulus-level sensitivity in CI users.
- To examine the relationship between EACC amplitude and the growth of the N1-P2 onset response.
Main Methods:
- Twelve adult Nucleus CI24 users participated.
- Direct CI stimulation was controlled using Nucleus Implant Communicator (NIC) routines.
- Acoustic change potentials were recorded and analyzed in response to controlled changes in stimulus level.
Main Results:
- Cortical auditory change potentials (EACCs) were successfully recorded in CI users.
- EACC amplitude depended on the magnitude of stimulus level change, with increases yielding stronger responses.
- EACC amplitudes significantly correlated with the rate of growth of the N1-P2 onset response.
Conclusions:
- The EACC reflects processing of stimulus level changes in CI users.
- EACC amplitude is related to both the magnitude of stimulus change and the neural response growth.
- The EACC shows potential as a tool for assessing neural processing in CI recipients, warranting further investigation against psychophysical measures.
