The Human Auditory Steady-State Evoked Potentials

Abstract

When auditory stimuli are presented at rates near 40/s, they evoke a steady-state middle latency response. This results from the super-positon of the transient responses evoked by each of the rapidly presented stimuli. The steady-state evoked potentials are most appropriately analyzed using frequency-based techniques. The response is larger for stimuli of higher intensity and of lower tonal frequency. The amplitude of the response varies with the state of arousal of the subject. Sleep results in a decrease in the amplitude to between one third and one half of the amplitude during wakefulness. The response is even further attenuated by general anesthesia. This auditory steady-state evoked potential may therefore be helpful in monitoring the state of arousal of a patient undergoing anesthesia.