Evoked responses from inferior colliculus as an index of hearing thresholds in guinea pigs.

Bipolar electrodes were implanted in the inferior colliculus of 10 healthy guinea pigs, and visual detection level thresholds of auditory evoked responses were obtained at 17 frequencies between 0.5 and 20.0 kHz. One microvolt isopotential curves from the round window for the same test frequencies were obtained in these animals. A comparison between the evoked response threshold curves and previous reports of the behavioral audiogram reveals a favorable correlation. The cochlear potential curve, however, appears to be a less efficient predictor of the audibility curve than the evoked response thresholds. The utility of evoked response audiometry from the inferior colliculus for quickly assessing auditory thresholds in the guinea pig is discussed.