Assessment of responses to cochlear implant stimulation at different levels of the auditory pathway

This paper reviews characteristics of both the electrically evoked compound action potential (ECAP) and
analogous measures of cortically evoked responses (CAEP) to electrical stimulation in cochlear implant
users. Specific comparisons are made between the two levels of processing for measures of threshold,
growth of responses with increasing stimulus level, changes in stimulation electrode and, finally, in
temporal response properties. The results are interpreted in a context that ECAPs primarily reflect the
characteristics of the electrode-neural interface for an individual ear. CAEPs clearly are dependent on
those peripheral responses but also reflect differences in central processing among individual implant
users. The potential applicability of combined measures in clinical situations is discussed.
This article is part of a Special Issue entitled <Lasker Award>.
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