Generators of the frequency-following response in the guinea pig

Generators of the frequency-following response (FFR) were assessed in 13 guinea pigs by cooling of the whole body and by experimental lesions of the brain stem. In the temperature study, the amplitude-temperature function of the FFR contained a significant cubic component that was absent from that of the cochlear microphonic potential (CM) recorded from the round window. The phase shift of the FFR increased with decreasing body temperature. In experimental lesions of the brain stem, a significant phase shift of the FFR was obtained following contralateral postcollicular section. The FFR amplitude with transection of the auditory nerve was similar to that found before surgical sections of the brain stem. The duration of the FFR after the transection corresponded precisely to that of the round window CM. These results indicate that the origin of the FFR contains both nonneural (ie, cochlea) and neural (ie, involving the inferior colliculus) generators.