Frequency-specific brainstem responses to bone-conducted tone pulses masked by notched noise.
As in the case of auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) to air-conducted stimuli, recording of frequency-specific ABRs to bone-conducted stimuli needs adequate masking of those parts of the basilar membrane that are not to contribute to the ABR. The present study shows that tone-pulse stimulation with notched noise-masking can be realized via a bone vibrator after its frequency response has been flattened. The latency-intensity curves for 4, 2, 1, and 0.5 kHz run approximately parallel, indicating the ABR to be indeed frequency-specific. As adequate air-conducted masking of the nontest ear can produce cross-masking, the use of an insert earphone is proposed. Because of its higher interaural attenuation, a higher masking level can be applied to the nontest ear.
Stürzebecher
E
E
ENT Clinic, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
Wagner
H
H
Cebulla
M
M
Bischoff
M
M
D001844:Bone Conduction / Q000502:physiology*; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology*; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009622:Noise; D010470:Perceptual Masking / Q000502:physiology*