The use of brain stem auditory evoked potentials in the evaluation of the central nervous system.

Brain stem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) are sensitive to anatomic disturbances of the brain stem auditory pathways, especially those caused by disruption of myelin. They are influenced by temperature but are virtually unaffected by level of consciousness, drugs, and metabolic disequilibrium. These properties make BAEPs useful in evaluating many posterior fossa disorders.