Brainstem auditory evoked potentials with and without increased stimulus rate as diagnostic tool in brainstem minor transient changes.

Two clinical groups of patients - 25 with Parkinson's disease and 17 with migraine - were evaluated using brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) to regular (10/s) and increased (55/s) stimulus rates. Each group of patients had an age-matched control group. The BAEP data were statistically evaluated, comparing the data of migraine patients during and between migraine spells, and the parkinsonian patients before and after L-dopa treatment. We believe that when group data are compared BAEP to an increased stimulus rate is an efficient tool for detecting even minor transient reversible physiologic changes of the brainstem.