Authors: Davis-Gunter M.J.¹; Löwenheim H.²; Gopal K.V.³; Moore E.J.⁴

Source: Scandinavian Audiology, Volume 30, Number 1, 1 January 2001 , pp. 50-60(11)

Publisher: Informa Healthcare

Abstract:

When stimulated with an appropriate stimulus, the hair cells of the organ of Corti depolarize, causing the release of a neurotransmitter substance, which excites afferent VIIIth nerve dendrites. It is reasonable to hypothesize that excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) generated by the dendrites of the auditory nerve in turn initiate a compound action potential (CAP). The EPSP is thought to be the generator potential for the CAP, and may be recorded in auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) as the I' potential. Determining the anatomical origin of I' may enhance the sensitivity of the ABR technique in hair cell/dendrite/auditory nerve evaluations. Whether I' is of sensory or of neural origin is equivocal, and therefore I' is not well understood. To investigate this dilemma, ABRs were recorded from human subjects using standard and paired-click stimuli, and using subtraction methods to generate a derived ABR. Two early peaks, designated as I° and I', occurred before wave I in the derived ABR. It was hypothesized that peaks I° and I' represent the summating potential and the generator potential, generated by the cochlea and VIIIth nerve dendrites, respectively.

Keywords: AUDITORY BRAINSTEM RESPONSES; COMPOUND ACTION POTENTIAL; EXCITATORY POST-SYNAPTIC POTENTIAL; GENERATOR POTENTIAL; SUMMATING POTENTIAL

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Audiology and Speech Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA 2: Hoerforschungszentrum, HNI-Klinik Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany 3: Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of North Texas, TX, USA 4: Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Biological Chemistry, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL, USA

Publication date: 2001-01-01

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