Abstract
Auditory evoked potential (AEP) recordings often require subjects to ignore the stimuli and stay awake. In the present experiment, early (ABR), middle (MLR), and late latency (LLR) AEPs were recorded to compare the effect of five different distracting tasks: (1) doing nothing eyes open, (2) reading, (3) watching a movie, (4) solving a three-digit sum, and (5) doing nothing eyes closed (or counting the stimuli for LLR). Results showed that neither the amplitudes nor the latencies of the ABR, MLR, or LLR were affected by task. However, the amount of pre-stimulus activity (noise) or amplitude rejection was significantly and differently affected by the distracting task. For the ABR, the math task was the noisiest but, for the MLR, the amount of noise was greater when watching a movie. As for the LLR, reading and watching a movie yielded the lowest percentage of rejected traces. In conclusion, the choice of distracting task depends on the AEP being measured and should be chosen to improve the quality of the AEP traces and thus reduce recording time.
Abbreviations | ||
AEP | = | Auditory evoked potential |
ABR | = | Auditory brainstem response |
MLR | = | Mid-latency response |
LLR | = | Late latency response (auditory N1-P2 complex) |
EEG | = | Electroencephalographic |
SD | = | Standard deviation |
ES | = | Effect size |
PR | = | Percentage rejection |
PS | = | Pre-stimulus |
SNR | = | Signal-to-noise ratio |
RMS | = | Root-mean-square |
GLM | = | General linear model |
LSD | = | Least significant difference |
HP | = | High pass filter |
LP | = | Low pass filter |
A/D | = | Analogue-to-digital conversion |
Abbreviations | ||
AEP | = | Auditory evoked potential |
ABR | = | Auditory brainstem response |
MLR | = | Mid-latency response |
LLR | = | Late latency response (auditory N1-P2 complex) |
EEG | = | Electroencephalographic |
SD | = | Standard deviation |
ES | = | Effect size |
PR | = | Percentage rejection |
PS | = | Pre-stimulus |
SNR | = | Signal-to-noise ratio |
RMS | = | Root-mean-square |
GLM | = | General linear model |
LSD | = | Least significant difference |
HP | = | High pass filter |
LP | = | Low pass filter |
A/D | = | Analogue-to-digital conversion |
Sumario
Los registros de potenciales evocados auditivos (AEP) requieren con frecuencia que los sujetos ignoren el estímulo y permanezcan despiertos. En este experimento, se registraron AEPs tempranos (ABR), medios (MLR) y de latencia tardía (LLR) para comparar el efecto de cinco tareas de distracción diferentes: (1) sin hacer nada y con los ojos abiertos; (2) leer; (3) ver una película; (4) resolver una suma de tres dígitos y (5) sin hacer nada y con los ojos cerrados (o contar los estímulos en LLR). Los resultados mostraron que ni las amplitudes ni las latencias de los ABR, MLR o LLR se afectaron con esas tareas. No obstante, la cantidad de actividad (ruido) pre-estimulatorio o el rechazo de amplitudes fueron significativa y diferentemente afectados por la tarea de distracción. Para el ABR, la tarea matemática fue la más ruidosa pero para el MLR, la cantidad de ruido fue mayor cuando se veía una película. Para los LLR, leer y ver una película ocasionó el porcentaje más bajo de trazos rechazados. En conclusión, la selección de tareas de distracción depende de los AEP que van a medirse, por lo que debe hacerse para mejorar la calidad de los trazos de AEP y reducir así el tiempo de registro.