Frequency-dependent effects of background noise on subcortical response timing

► We examined noise-induced delays in the auditory brainstem response. ► We measured these delays using two methods: identification of peak latencies and detection of phase shifts. ► Phase shifts in certain frequency bands correlated very highly with latency shifts. ► We also find phase shifts at other frequencies that do not correlate with peak latency shifts. ► Thus, phase shift detection is a viable way to objectively measure noise-induced timing shifts.