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Speech Science Forum - Jonas Huber
14 March 2024, 4:00 pm–5:00 pm
Rapid-FFR: Developing a new method to quickly measure the electrical response to sounds in the auditory brain of children and adults
Event Information
Open to
- All
Availability
- Yes
Organiser
-
Rana Abu-Zhaya
Location
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School of Pharmacy, 22529-39 Brunswick SquareLondonWC1N 1AXUnited Kingdom
The Frequency-Following Response (FFR) serves as an electrophysiological metric, assessing the auditory brainstem's phase-locking ability. Traditionally, FFR data collection involves repetitive sound stimulation interspersed with silences, resulting in a time-intensive process. In our new "Rapid FFR" approach, we deviate from the convention in two ways: Firstly, we adopt a continuous stimulus presentation, eliminating interstimulus intervals. Additionally, we employ averaging across a single cycle of the response, enhancing the efficiency of data collection. Preliminary results show that we achieve a threefold reduction in acquisition time using the Rapid FFR while preserving signal strength.
The implications of this advancement are particularly noteworthy for conditions that the FFR appears to be sensitive to, including synaptopathy, linguistic deprivation, autism, concussions, and learning impairments. Significantly, the technique proves beneficial for challenging populations such as infants, where extended recording sessions are impractical. This talk explores the rapid FFR's feasibility in normal hearing adults, compares its efficacy to traditional methods, extends it to ecologically valid sounds resembling speech, and presents results in infants aged 3 to 6 months, demonstrating its broad applicability and potential impact on diverse populations.
This event will be hosted online as well: https://ucl.zoom.us/j/99250674551?pwd=bThCckVUdzEzZGY3dkNRekxsM3oxUT09
About the Speaker
Jonas Huber
Phd Candidate at University College London
I am currently a PhD candidate at UCL under the supervision of Professors Stuart Rosen, Adam Tierney, and David Kemp. My research is funded by the MRC, and I am engaged in a collaborative program with Otodynamics, a hearing assessment company founded by Professor David Kemp. The primary focus of my research is on the brainstem response known as the Frequency-Following Response. The overarching goal of my PhD is to promote a more widespread use of this measure, which shows significant clinical potential, by optimizing its acquisition process to be more time-efficient. To achieve this objective, we have initiated collaborations with institutions such as the Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, the Queen Square Institute of Neurology, and the CNRS in Paris.