Auditory P3 responses to name stimuli.

Auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) were recorded from 10 normal adults in response to their own first names and to other first names spoken on tape. The following experimental conditions were used: 30 repetitions of the subject's first name; 80 other assorted first names from the same gender; 30 repetitions of a first name other than the subject's name. A P3 component was recorded from all ten subjects in response to their own first name, but not to other first names. Utility of this procedure could include assessment of cognitive processing of nonresponsive populations such as comatose patients, stroke patients, demented patients, autistics, infants, and children.