A model of auditory brainstem response wave I morphology.

ABSTRACT

Use of the auditory brainstem response (ABR) in research has increased in the search for physiological correlates of noise-induced damage to the cochlea. The extraction of data from the ABR has traditionally relied on visual determination of peaks and troughs to calculate metrics such as wave amplitude. Visual determination can be reliable when evaluated by trained, experienced personnel, but noisy waveforms and overlapping waves produce uncertain data. The present study proposes and validates a method of fitting summed Gaussian functions to the summating potential and wave I of the ABR. This method could be useful to the research community studying these potentials by providing more accurate measures of wave amplitude than by visual determination.