Behavioral and human evoked response thresholds as a function of frequency.

Abstract

This experiment measured the correspondence between the method of adjustment quiet threshold and the human vertex response (AER) quiet threshold, when various frequency signals were used. Behavioral and AER thresholds of four subjects were measured, using tone bursts of 250, 500, 4000, or 6000 Hz. The tone bursts had a 25-msec overall duration (5-msec rise/fall time and 15-msec plateau). The signals were presented every two seconds and the AER was computed on 50 samples. The differences between the AER and behavioral thresholds were approximately 10 dB for the 250- and 500-Hz signals and 20–22 dB for the 4000- and 6000-Hz signals. The implications of these results for the clinical application of AER are discussed.