Developing a Calibration Method to Minimize Variability in Auditory Evoked Potentials

To reduce amplitude variability of auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) we developed a circuit that generates an electric calibration pulse (CalPulse) following each evoking sound presentation. We aim to determine if external CalPulse signals can function as a reliable calibration reference for AEP amplitude measurements.

The CalPulse circuit was integrated with an AEP recording montage. The amplitude and morphology of two CalPulse signals (square wave and sine wave) was first assessed in vitro with electrodes submerged in saline. Repeatability of the two signals was then compared in vivo using five (3 male/2 female) 4-month-old CBA/CAJ mice and four unique auditory brainstem response (ABR) configurations. Sine wave CalPulse amplitudes were subsequently used to adjust raw ABR wave-1 amplitudes in a sample of 38 (19 male/19 female) CBA/CaJ mice. Variability in adjusted wave-1 amplitudes was compared with raw amplitudes. Measurements were repeated every month for 4 months (8 to 11 months old) to evaluate its potential as a tool to detect age-related changes in auditory function.

Wave quality examinations indicate that both CalPulse signal types are stable in vitro, with the sine wave signal being more repeatable when recorded in vivo. Sine wave CalPulse amplitudes correlated positively with ABR wave-1 amplitudes. Normalizing wave-1 amplitudes with CalPulse measures significantly reduced within-subject variability. Normalized wave-1 amplitudes showed a significant decrease at 10 months of age consistent with age-related cochlear synaptopathy, while uncalibrated wave-1 amplitudes from the same recordings failed to detect this decrease.

Our new calibration circuit can be used to improve diagnostic sensitivity of AEP measures.