Summed Evoked Responses Using Pure-Tone Stimuli

Abstract

Selected pure tones were used as stimuli in a study of evoked auditory responses in 25 adults. The effects of stimulus frequency, intensity, and duration on the evoked response were evaluated. Pure-tone stimuli appear to be as satisfactory as click stimuli in eliciting auditory evoked responses and have the additional advantage of providing more information relative to auditory function. Evoked response patterns were essentially the same for 500 Hz (cps), 2,000 Hz, and 4,000 Hz. Latencies were longer for the components of pure-tone-evoked responses than for click-evoked responses. Evoked responses may be influenced by (1) changes in stimulus parameters and (2) changes in subject’s psychophysical state. These variables become a major consideration in the recognition of the evoked response at intensity levels near threshold.