The Measurement of Surface-Recorded Electrocochleographic Responses

Abstract

By using a surface-electrode recording technique, it is possible to record five negative and five positive peaks which form a set of responses from the cochlear nerve and the auditory brainstem nuclei. Thus, it is possible to measure ten latency and ten amplitude values from this response complex. The latency measure is accurately defined, but the amplitude measure may be the actual value of a negative peak or one of two possible peak-to-peak values. This paper presents details of the recording and measurement techniques and compares the various amplitude measures. For each measure, its value, variability and its relationship to normal hearing function is evaluated. The question of the independence of the individual peaks is considered, and the relationships between peaks are calculated and discussed with reference to the background noise processes.