Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026
Infant Auditory Processing and Event-related Brain Oscillations
Published on: July 1, 2015
Brain stem auditory evoked potentials in the human fetus during labor
H Eswaran1, J D Wilson, C L Lowery
1Department of Applied Science, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to record, during labor, the brain stem auditory evoked potentials of the fetus from standard fetal scalp electrodes.
Study Design:
A personal computer-based instrument was developed to record, during labor, brain stem auditory evoked potentials from 10 fetuses ranging in gestational age from 36 to >/=40 weeks. Auditory stimulus was provided by clicks (16/s) delivered on the mother's abdomen with an intensity of 120 dB. The evoked potential signals were digitized and averaged. Interfering artifacts were excluded from the averages.
Results:
In 80% of the subjects, all the principal waveforms of the brain stem auditory evoked potentials-waves I, III, and V-were clearly identifiable. The latency for wave I ranged from 1.2 to 2.2 ms, wave III from 3.4 to 5.6 ms, and wave V from 5.8 to 8.4 ms. The morphologic features of the waveform and the interwave latency values were similar to those of normal term infants recorded in the past studies.
Conclusion:
We have reestablished that it is possible to record auditory evoked potentials during labor from fetal scalp electrodes. Brain stem auditory evoked potentials may be a useful screening tool for at least the severely neurologically damaged fetus.
