Cortical high-gamma responses in auditory processing.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This tutorial provides an introduction to cortical auditory spectral responses, focusing on event-related activity in the high-gamma frequencies (60-150 Hz), their recent emergence in neuroscience research, and potential clinical applications. METHOD: Auditory high-gamma responses are described and compared with traditional cortical evoked responses, including the auditory evoked N1 response. Methods for acquiring and analyzing spectral responses, including time-frequency analyses, are discussed and contrasted with more familiar time-domain averaging approaches. Four cases are presented illustrating high-gamma response patterns associated with normal and impaired auditory processing. CONCLUSIONS: Cortical auditory high-gamma responses may provide a useful clinical measure of auditory processing.