The anatomic and physiologic bases of brain stem auditory evoked potentials

The generators of human BAEPs, as summarized in Table 1 and Figure 12, are more complex than has often been presumed. Most peaks reflect activity in several structures, though patterns of BAEP abnormality can be correlated with abnormalities in general areas of the brain stem. The phasic peaks originate in action potentials, whereas the SN reflects postsynaptic potentials within brain-stem auditory nuclei.