Operant control of auditory brainstem potentials in man.

Two studies are described which demonstrate operant conditioning of brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) component V. Our results show that reinforcement of the cumulative summation of the wave V P8N11 component (20 dB HL stimulus clicks) hastens its summation leading to increased wave V amplitude not associated with trivial mediation factors. The results were interpreted as demonstrating operant control of very early neural events in the brainstem of man.