Abstract
To determine the relationship between skull surface brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) and near-field potentials, short latency auditory-evoked potentials were directly recorded from the brainstem surface in humans and cats using monopolar and bipolar recording techniques. However, monopolar recordings did not sufficiently define BAEP generator sources. Detection results of phase-reversal bipolar recordings in cats demonstrated the importance of two-electrode positions, fiber directions, and impulse directions. In contrast, responses recorded from bipolar electrodes on the contralateral caudal pons demonstrated that only the component associated with time at P3 revealed a phase reversal. These results suggested that waves I, II, and III in humans corresponded to the same components in cats. In addition, wave III generated the structures in the contralateral pons, which was likely the contralateral superior olive to the stimulated ear. Further studies combining other experimental techniques are needed to determine the exact BAEP generators.
