Electrophysiological Evidence for the Sources of the Masking Level Difference

The purpose of this review article is to review evidence from auditory evoked potential studies to describe the contributions of the auditory brainstem and cortex to the generation of the masking level difference (MLD).

A literature review was performed, focusing on the auditory brainstem, middle, and late latency responses used in protocols similar to those used to generate the behavioral MLD.

Temporal coding of the signals necessary for generating the MLD occurs in the auditory periphery and brainstem. Brainstem disorders up to wave III of the auditory brainstem response (ABR) can disrupt the MLD. The full MLD requires input to the generators of the auditory late latency potentials to produce all characteristics of the MLD; these characteristics include threshold differences for various binaural signal and noise conditions. Studies using central auditory lesions are beginning to identify the cortical effects on the MLD.

The MLD requires auditory processing from the periphery to cortical areas. A healthy auditory periphery and brainstem codes temporal synchrony, which is essential for the ABR. Threshold differences require engaging cortical function beyond the primary auditory cortex. More studies using cortical lesions and evoked potentials or imaging should clarify the specific cortical areas involved in the MLD.