Auditory Electrophysiology: The Use of Templates and Cross Correlation Functions in the Analysis of Brain Stem Potentials

Abstract

A method for the objective analysis of acoustically evoked brain stem potentials, BSER, is proposed. Recordings from 24 patients with pure cochlear hearing losses are adjusted in amplitude and time, and used to produce normative BSER waveforms serving as templates. The cross-correlation function between the individual, adjusted BSER recording and the corresponding template is calculated, yielding an objective measure of the BSER waveform and gross latency. Clinical application of the method has given encouraging results.