Binaural interaction in the brain-stem auditory evoked potential: evidence for a delay line coincidence detection mechanism.

The binaural interaction component (BIC) of the brain-stem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) was studied in 13 normally hearing adults by subtracting the response to binaural clicks from the algebraic sum of monaural responses. Eight or 16 electrodes on the head and neck were referred to a non-cephalic site, the binaural stimuli were delivered either simultaneously or with an inter-aural time difference (delta t) of 0.2-1.6 msec, and masking noise was presented to the non-stimulated ear. With simultaneous binaural clicks a BIC was identifiable in every subject, the most consistent peaks being a scalp-positive potential (P1) peaking approximately 0.2 msec after wave V and a scalp negativity (N1) 0.7 msec later. Similar potentials were identifiable in 6/7 subjects with delta t of 0.4 msec, 5/7 at 0.8 msec but only 1/7 at 1.2 msec. This suggests that the BIC may be associated with sound localization mechanisms which are sensitive to a similar range of delta t. On increasing delta t from 0.0 to 0.8 msec, the BIC was progressively delayed by approximately half the inter-aural time difference, with no suggestion of increasing temporal dispersion. This supports the notion of a 'delay line coincidence detection' mechanism in which the BIC represents the output of binaurally responsive neurones, probably in the superior olivary complex, which are 'tuned' to a particular delta t by the relative lengths of presynaptic axons relaying input from either ear. The distribution of the BIC in sagittal and coronal electrode chains was compared with that of binaural BAEP components I-VI and found to bear the closest resemblance to wave IV. It is suggested that both components may originate largely in the lateral lemnisci.