Variability of auditory evoked potentials in human newborns

Abstract

Auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) were recorded in 6 normal full-term newborns throughout sleep cycles on 2 consecutive days. AEP configuration, latencies, and voltages were examined and analyzed with attention to relationships with the wakefulness-sleep cycle and intra-and intersession consistency. The following conclusions have been reached: 1. 1. Previous reports of AEP differences between active and quiet sleep were confirmed. The late components of the AEP tend to be of higher voltage and longer latency during quiet sleep. The AEP of wakefulness tends to resemble that of active sleep. 2. 2. The AEP consists of 7 components. Component P2 (latency approximately 250 msec) is far the most consistently detected. Its latency and voltage are reasonably stable both within and between recording sessions, taking state into account. 3. 3. The AEP of the full-term newborn is more mature than the visual evoked potential by several criteria.