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Credit: State University of New York
A multimodal auditory assessment platform that combines synchronized brain-activity measurements and pupil-response monitoring to provide an objective method for evaluating hearing-related disorders such as tinnitus, hyperacusis, and misophonia.
BACKGROUND:
Clinical evaluation of tinnitus, hyperacusis, misophonia, and other sound-tolerance disorders relies heavily on subjective patient reporting. This can make assessment difficult in patients who cannot reliably communicate their symptoms and can also complicate measurement of treatment response over time.
TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW:
SYNAPSE, or Synchronized Neural and Auditory Pupillometry for Sensory Evaluation, is a protocol designed to objectively measure auditory responses by simultaneously recording brain activity and pupil dilation during exposure to controlled auditory stimuli.
This University at Buffalo system uses CEEGrid around-the-ear electrodes connected to an OpenBCI board to collect EEG signals and a USB infrared camera to capture monocular pupil responses. Auditory stimuli are presented through headphones using PsychoPy software, while EEG and pupillometry data are synchronized using the Lab Streaming Layer protocol.
The standardized testing procedure includes a Pupil Muscular Test, Hearing Loudness Test, Listening Effort Test, and Aversion Sound Test. The resulting synchronized biosignals can be analyzed together to identify features and potential biomarkers associated with abnormal auditory sensitivity, tinnitus, hyperacusis, misophonia, and related conditions. The protocol has been fully implemented for data collection and has been used with human research participants.
ADVANTAGES:
- Provides an objective physiological assessment rather than relying exclusively on patient self-report
- Combines EEG and pupillometry within a single synchronized protocol, potentially providing a more robust assessment than either signal alone
- Uses a standardized four-stage testing procedure to evaluate multiple aspects of auditory processing, including loudness perception, listening effort, and sound aversion
- The use of around-the-ear EEG electrodes may also offer a more compact and potentially clinically adaptable approach than traditional full-scalp EEG systems
APPLICATIONS:
- Objective screening for tinnitus, hyperacusis, misophonia, and other sound-tolerance disorders
- Monitoring patient response to treatment
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SUMMARY: Patent pending.
STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT: TRL 6
LICENSING STATUS: Available for licensing or collaboration.
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