Auditory evoked magnetic fields in relation to interaural cross-correlation of band-pass noise.

Auditory evoked magnetic fields of the human brain were analyzed in relation to the magnitude of the inter-aural cross-correlation (IACC). IACC of the stimuli was controlled by mixing diotic bandpass and dichotic independent bandpass noise in appropriate ratios. The auditory stimuli were binaurally delivered through plastic tubes and earpieces inserted into ear canals of the nine volunteers with normal hearing who took part in this study. All source signals had the same sound pressure level. Auditory evoked fields (AEFs) were recorded using a neuromagnetometer in a magnetically shielded room. Combinations of a reference stimulus (IACC=1.0) and test stimuli (IACC=0.2, 0.6, 0.85) were presented alternately at a constant interstimulus interval of 0.5 s and MEGs recorded. The results showed that the N1m latencies were not affected by IACC; however, the peak amplitude of N1m significantly decreased with increasing IACC.