The brain stem evoked response and medial nucleus of the trapezoid body

Single-unit responses of cat superior olivary complex neurons to acoustic stimuli were examined to determine whether the units' action potentials were sufficiently synchronized to contribute to the brain stem evoked response. The medial nucleus of the trapezoid body and lateral superior olive are two major nuclei within the cat superior olivary complex. The first-spike discharge latencies of medial nucleus of the trapezoid body and lateral superior olivary neurons to monaural presentations of tone burst stimuli were measured as a function of stimulus level. Evidence is provided to support the hypotheses that in cat the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body may contribute directly to the monaural brain stem evoked response by producing action potentials synchronized to stimulus onset and may also contribute indirectly to the brain stem evoked response binaural difference wave bc by inhibiting the lateral superior olive unit excitatory responses synchronized to stimulus onset.