Hearing / Central processing / ABRs
Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABRs)
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also called Brainstem Auditory Evoked Responses (BAERs)
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EEG recorded in response to repeated presentations of sounds of specified frequency and intensity – averaged many times to filter background electrical noise
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peaks in the waveform (I, II, III, etc.) correspond to successive stages in the auditory pathway (auditory nerve, cochlear nucleus, superior olive, etc.)
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ascribed to the nuclei, but likely are due to the nerve pathways
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one way to assess hearing thresholds (determine an audiogram) without requiring behavioural responses