The Use of CNV in Audiometry

Abstract

The contingent negative variation (CNV) has been used to design an objective test of the threshold of perception of a simple acoustic stimulus. A tone of adjustable intensity was delivered by an audiometer to predict a second stimulus (weak flash of light to follow after a short interval. A CNV was generated during this interval if the subject expected the second stimulus. When the subject did not perceive the tone, the CNV did not appear. Acoustic stimuli near the threshold frequently produced a CNV of higher amplitude than those following stronger stimuli. Comparatively short intervals between the conditioning and the test stimulus can be used. The advantages of the use of the CNV as an objective audiometric test as compared to evoked cerebral potential (ECP) audiometry and the possibility of using the method in clinical practice are discussed

Key Words:

• Electric response audiometry (ERA)
• Contingent negative variation (CNV)
• Nonspecific evoked cerebral potential (NECP)
• Perception