The Bifrequency Binaural Interaction Component of the Auditory Brainstem Response

Abstract

The binaural interaction component of the auditory brainstem response was investigated in three stimulus conditions, 1000-Hz tone pips to both ears, 3000-Hz tone pips to both ears, and 1000-Hz tone pips to the left ear and 3000-Hz tone pips to the right ear. A binaural interaction component was produced in all conditions in which the stimuli were presented in quiet and in broadband noise, suggesting that a frequency separation of 2000 Hz between ears can produce a fused image. Responses to the bifrequency stimuli in noise indicated the peak A of the binaural interaction component is not dependent solely on the slope of wave V because when the noise caused a dissociated binaural wave V, peak A was associated only with the trailing wave V.