Auditory Pathway

The auditory pathway from the inner ear to the cerebral cortex is the focus of our research team. We investigate objective biomarkers that reflect auditory system integrity and function. For this purpose, we use different measurement methods that capture signals at different locations of the auditory pathway. These include intracochlear recordings (electrocochleography, impedance measurements, electrically evoked action potentials), measurements from the brainstem (brainstem audiometry) and responses from the brain cortex (functional near-infrared spectroscopy). By identifying such biomarkers, we aim to understand and optimize hearing outcomes in hearing impaired patients and hearing implant users.

Team members

Prof. Dr. med. Stefan Weder

Team Leader, principal investigator

András Bálint, M.Sc.

PhD candidate

Field: Functional Near-infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS)
Title: Predicting Speech Understanding in Cochlear Implant Candidates

Raphael Andonie, M.Sc.

PhD candidate

Field: Electrocochleography, impedance, electrically evoked compound action potentials
Title: Identifying Traumatic Events during Cochlear Implantation (I-TEC)

Benjamin Bircher, M.Sc.

PhD candidate

Field: Electrocochleography, impedance, electrically evoked compound action potentials
Title: Deep Electrophysiological Measurements of Intra-Cochlear Electrodes (Deep-EIE)

Hannes Hefty, MMed

Doctoral Candidate

Field: Electrocochleography (ECochG)
Title: Multitone Stimulation in Electrocochleography

Dr.sc.nat. Tom Gawliczek, PhD

Clinical collaborator

Field: Active middle ear implants
Title: Using Neurophysiological Markers to Predict the Coupling Efficiency of Active Middle Ear Implants

Alexandra Nuofer

Study Nurse

Alumni

• Klaus Schürch, Dr. (completed doctoral thesis)
• Manuel Waser, Dr. med. (completed doctoral thesis)
• Luca Sclabas, Dr med. (completed doctoral thesis)

Selected Publications

• Schuerch, K., Wimmer, W., Dalbert, A., Rummel, C., Caversaccio, M., Mantokoudis, G., & Weder, S. (2022). Objectification of intracochlear electrocochleography using machine learning. Frontiers in neurology, 13, 943816.
• Wimmer, W., Sclabas, L., Caversaccio, M. D., & Weder, S. (2022). Cochlear Implant Electrode Impedance as Potential Biomarker for Residual Hearing. Frontiers in neurology, 1305.
• Bálint, A., Wimmer, W., Caversaccio, M., & Weder, S. (2022). Neural Activity During Audiovisual Speech Processing: Protocol For a Functional Neuroimaging Study. JMIR research protocols, 11(6), e38407.