Influence of Background Noise on the Early Components of the Averaged Electroencephalic Response to Clicks

Abstract

Early components of the averaged electroencephalic response (AER) were studied in 10 normal-hearing subjects. Clicks were presented monaurally at 24 dB SL in the presence of an ipsilateral white noise whose level was systematically varied. AER peak-to-peak amplitude and peak latency were measured. Response amplitude varied inversely with masker level; latency did not vary systematically. No responses were detectable when the clicks were subjectively masked by the white noise.