The frequency-following response and the onset response: evaluation of frequency specificity using a forward-masking paradigm.

The onset and frequency-following response (FFR) components of the auditory brain stem response were investigated using a tone on tone forward-masking paradigm, as an alternate strategy to simultaneous masking, in an effort to further clarify the issue of place specificity of these components when elicited by a low-frequency stimulus (500 Hz tone burst). The results of this preliminary investigation suggest that both the onset and FFR components yield frequency-specific information, that is, they reflect activity along a limited apicalward region of the cochlea, but both are biased somewhat basalward to the place of the probe frequency. Also, of the two, the FFR is the relatively more place-specific response.