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Auditory brainstem response latencies, but not amplitudes, are associated with gray matter volumes across the human auditory pathway in older adults
San-Martín S, Aedo C, Vidal V, Leiva A, Delgado C, Délano PH, Medel V.. bioRxiv, 2026-08-26
Topic: Brain imaging, connectivity and assessment
Results ABR latencies, rather than amplitudes, showed significant associations with regional gray matter volumes. After adjustment for age, hearing thresholds, and intracranial volume, larger superior olivary complex volume was associated with shorter Wave I latency (ρ partial = −0.305, p = 0.005), whereas larger medial geniculate nucleus and auditory cortex volumes were associated with shorter Wave V latency (ρ partial = −0.265, p = 0.014 and ρ partial = −0.404, p < 0.001, respectively). In multivariate models, superior olivary complex volume remained associated with Wave I latency (β = −0.310, p = 0.007). Medial geniculate nucleus volume was initially associated with Wave V latency (β = -0.247, p = 0.038); however, this relationship was attenuated once auditory cortex volume was included in the model (β = -0.350, p = 0.002), which emerged as the dominant predictor. Inferior colliculus volume was not significantly associated with Wave V latency or amplitude. These associations extended beyond the structures traditionally considered the main generators of Waves I and V, suggesting that interindividual variation in ABR latency may reflect distributed anatomical variation across the auditory pathway rather than a strict one-wave-one-generator correspondence.
Key findings
- Results ABR latencies, rather than amplitudes, showed significant associations with regional gray matter volumes.
- After adjustment for age, hearing thresholds, and intracranial volume, larger superior olivary complex volume was associated with shorter Wave I latency (ρ partial = −0.305, p = 0.005), whereas larger medial geniculate nucleus and auditory cortex volumes were associated with shorter Wave V latency (ρ partial = −0.265, p = 0.014 and ρ partial = −0.404, p < 0.001, respectively).
- In multivariate models, superior olivary complex volume remained associated with Wave I latency (β = −0.310, p = 0.007).
- Medial geniculate nucleus volume was initially associated with Wave V latency (β = -0.247, p = 0.038); however, this relationship was attenuated once auditory cortex volume was included in the model (β = -0.350, p = 0.002), which emerged as the dominant predictor.
- Inferior colliculus volume was not significantly associated with Wave V latency or amplitude.
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Study details
- Participants88
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 16/100
Preprint — not yet peer-reviewed. It scored 31 on the same rubric, but non-peer-reviewed sources are capped at 16, so it shows as 16. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on times cited, citations per year, impact for its field and year, cited by studies here, still being cited, senior author's track record, institution's track record and multi-centre collaboration, so those were left out: it earned 19 of the 62 points we could judge it on, which is 31 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 2 / 10 | Tier 4 — not a peer-reviewed journal (bioRxiv) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Not a journal article, so the journal's record does not count |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 4 / 10 | Preprint — not yet peer-reviewed. Hosted on a preprint server. |
| How recent | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 88 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | — / 7 | No citation count (not found in OpenAlex) — left out of this score |
| Citations per year | — / 5 | No citation count or no year — left out of this score |
| Impact for its field and year | — / 6 | No field-weighted citation impact (OpenAlex has none yet) — left out of this score |
| Cited by studies here | — / 6 | Not yet checked against this library's citation graph — left out of this score |
| Still being cited | — / 4 | No yearly citation counts — left out of this score |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | Senior author's record not available — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | — / 3 | No institution listed in OpenAlex — left out of this score |
| Multi-centre collaboration | — / 3 | Institutions not listed — left out of this score |
| Indexed in PubMed | 1 / 2 | Not in PubMed, but has a DOI |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Points | 19 / 62 | Scored on 12 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 19 of the 62 points we could judge it on is 31 out of 100. |
| Total | 31 / 100 | Capped to 16 because this is not a peer-reviewed article. |
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 7 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
San-Martín, S., Aedo, C., Vidal, V., Leiva, A., Delgado, C., Délano, P. H., et al. (2026). Auditory brainstem response latencies, but not amplitudes, are associated with gray matter volumes across the human auditory pathway in older adults. bioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.08.21.746342
Vancouver
San-Martín S, Aedo C, Vidal V, Leiva A, Delgado C, Délano PH, et al. Auditory brainstem response latencies, but not amplitudes, are associated with gray matter volumes across the human auditory pathway in older adults. bioRxiv. 2026. doi:10.64898/2026.08.21.746342.
BibTeX
@article{sanmartin2026-3cd18b34,
author = {San-Martín, S. and Aedo, C. and Vidal, V. and Leiva, A. and Delgado, C. and Délano, P. H. and Medel, V.},
title = {{Auditory brainstem response latencies, but not amplitudes, are associated with gray matter volumes across the human auditory pathway in older adults}},
journal = {bioRxiv},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.64898/2026.08.21.746342},
url = {https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.08.21.746342}
}
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