Effects of Signal Rise Time and Frequency on the Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response

Abstract

Two experiments studied the effects of signal rise time and frequency on the brainstem auditory evoked response. In Experiment 1, five different rise times were presented, fast (10 µsec), 0.5, 1, 2.5, and 5 msec at a center frequency of 1000 Hz at three sensation levels, 20, 40, and 60 dB. As rise time was increased, response amplitude and detectability decreased and response latency increased. In Experiment 2, tonal pips were presented at 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, and 8000 Hz at 40-dB sensation level. Although the effects of frequency and signal rise time were confounded, no frequency effect was apparent.