Development of surface-recorded cochlear and early neural potentials in the cat.

The development of the surface-recorded cochlear and early neural potentials has been studied in the cat from birth to the 8th post-natal week. CM, SP, and each of the neural waves has a characteristic temporal developmental pattern and mature threshold. Wave IV is the most resistant to reduction in stimulus intensity levels, while the thresholds of both cochlear potentials are high. Animals with hereditary unilateral deafness constitute a most convenient model for the study of functional maturation in the auditory pathways, particularly with regard to precise latency estimations.