Effects of rise time on simultaneously recorded auditory-evoked potentials from the early, middle and late ranges

The view that the effects of stimulus rise time are qualitatively different for early brain stem components, middle latency components and late vertex components of the auditory-evoked responses was reexamined. The amplitudes and latencies of the brain stem response (Jewett's wave V), middle latency components Na and Pa, and vertex potentials P1, N1 and P2, evoked by tone burts of various rise times, were analyzed. Increases in rise time were associated with smaller peak amplitudes and longer peak latencies for all of the components measured. These effects were comparable in magnitude for all the components. The results are interpreted in terms of a delayed and less synchronized neural discharge from the cochlea as rise time is extended.