Age-related changes in human middle latency auditory evoked potentials.
We recorded middle latency auditory evoked potentials (MAEPs) in young (20-40 years) and elderly (60-80 years) subjects with normal hearing. The Pa component was prolonged in latency and markedly enhanced in amplitude in the elderly subjects. No changes were found in Na, or in the binaural interaction of the MAEP. Differences in Pa amplitude and latency were not due exclusively to changes in auditory thresholds, since they were not duplicated by changes in stimulus intensity, and persisted when MAEPs from selected young and old subjects were compared at similar SPL levels. The enhancement of Pa amplitude appears to reflect age-related central modifications in auditory processing.
D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male