Frequency-specific brainstem responses to bone-conducted tone pulses masked by notched noise

As in the case of auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) to air-conducted stimuli, recording of frequency-specific ABRs to bone-conducted stimuli needs adequate masking of those parts of the basilar membrane that are not to contribute to the ABR. The present study shows that tone-pulse stimulation with notched noise-masking can be realized via a bone vibrator after its frequency response has been flattened. The latency-intensity curves for 4, 2, 1, and 0.5 kHz run approximately parallel, indicating the ABR to be indeed frequency-specific. As adequate air-conducted masking of the nontest ear can produce cross-masking, the use of an insert earphone is proposed. Because of its higher interaural attenuation, a higher masking level can be applied to the nontest ear.