Classification of passive auditory event-related potentials using discriminant analysis and self-organizing feature maps

Discriminant analysis (DA) and self-organizing feature maps (SOFM) were use d to classify passively evoked auditory event-related potentials (ERP) P-1, N-1, P-2 and N-2 Responses from 16 children with severe behavioral auditor y perception deficits, 16 children with marked behavioral auditory percepti on deficits, and 14 controls were examined. Eighteen ERP amplitude paramete rs were selected for examination of statistical differences between the gro ups, Different DA methods and SOFM configurations were trained to the value s, SOFM had better classification results than DA methods. Subsequently, me asures on another 37 subjects that were unknown for the trained SOFM were u sed to test the reliability of the system. With 10-dimensional vectors, rel iable classifications were obtained that matched behavioral auditory percep tion deficits in 96%, implying central auditory processing disorder (CAPD). The results also support the assumption that CARD includes a 'non-peripher al' auditory processing deficit. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.