Optimal electrode selection for multi-channel electroencephalogram based detection of auditory steady-state responses.
Auditory steady-state responses (ASSRs) are used for hearing threshold estimation at audiometric frequencies. Hearing impaired newborns, in particular, benefit from this technique as it allows for a more precise diagnosis than traditional techniques, and a hearing aid can be better fitted at an early age. However, measurement duration of current single-channel techniques is still too long for clinical widespread use. This paper evaluates the practical performance of a multi-channel electroencephalogram (EEG) processing strategy based on a detection theory approach. A minimum electrode set is determined for ASSRs with frequencies between 80 and 110 Hz using eight-channel EEG measurements of ten normal-hearing adults. This set provides a near-optimal hearing threshold estimate for all subjects and improves response detection significantly for EEG data with numerous artifacts. Multi-channel processing does not significantly improve response detection for EEG data with few artifacts. In this case, best response detection is obtained when noise-weighted averaging is applied on single-channel data. The same test setup (eight channels, ten normal-hearing subjects) is also used to determine a minimum electrode setup for 10-Hz ASSRs. This configuration allows to record near-optimal signal-to-noise ratios for 80% of subjects.
Van Dun
Bram
B
ExpORL, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. bram.vandun@med.kuleuven.be
Wouters
Jan
J
Moonen
Marc
M
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D016477:Artifacts; D001303:Auditory Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology*; D004566:Electrodes; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D055815:Young Adult