Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) were simultaneously recorded from the vertex with reference electrodes placed on the ipsilateral earlobe (same side as stimulation), the chin, the seventh cervical vertebra (CVII) and the wrist. 14 adults with normal hearing were tested. The amplitudes and latencies of ABRs obtained by each electrode configuration were measured. The results led us to conclude: 1)A use of vertex and ipsilateral earlobe reference might prove useful for neurological assessment because the amplitudes of waves I and III were larger than in other configuration. 2) The largest wave V amplitude was recorded by the vertex and CVII configuration. This configuration may thus be used advantageously for audiological assessment of bone-conducted ABRs, since electrical artifact caused by a bone vibrator placed on the mastoid can be reduced. 3)A configuration using a reference electrode on the CVII or the chin is suitable for studying the potential distribution of ABRs over the scalp, because the potential of each ABR component propagated to the reference electrode positions was small.
