Long Latency Auditory Evoked Potential: What is Analyzed in National Researches

Introduction: For long latency auditory evoked potential (LLAEP) data to be useful and the findings compared with other studies, or be used in clinical practice, it is important to standardize what is assessed in these potentials, especially in national researches.

Objective: The aim of this study is to perform an analysis of the national literature of the parameters used for LLAEP researches.

Materials and Methods: Overall 20 articles were analyzed, out of which 4 were excluded because they disagree with the inclusion criteria. In other articles, the following parameters were considered: searching only the exogenous complex; only endogenous complex; both complexes; analysis of only the latency of these complexes; only amplitude; and both characteristics of complexes.

Results: It was found that four (25%) articles considered the latency of endogenous complex; three (18.75%) analyzed the N2 latency of exogenous complex, amplitude and latency of the endogenous complex; three (18.75%) used only amplitude and latency of the P3 wave; two (12.5%) focused on searching latencies and amplitudes of the N2 and P3 waves; and the remaining four (25%) analyzed different aspects: one considered the amplitude of N2 and P3 latency and amplitude, the latency of N1 and P2 exogenous complex, one studied the morphology, latency, and amplitude of P1, N1, and P2 waves of exogenous complex, and finally one considered the latency and amplitude of the mismatch negativity (MMN) endogenous potential.

Conclusion: It was found that there is substantial variability in the methods and parameters used to perform the LLAEP. This study seeks to contribute to standardize the LLAEP research, facilitating discussions of findings and the use for clinical practice.

Keywords: Electrophysiology, event-related potentials, P300, review.