Because brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) are frequently recorded in anesthetized animals and humans, it is important to become familiar with the effects on the BAEP of drugs used during anesthesia, including pre-anesthetics. The dose-dependent and stimulus intensity-dependent effects on the BAEP of a pre-anesthetic, atropine sulfate, were studied in the unanesthetized rat. The animal subjects were 11 adult female Long-Evans rats. BAEPs in response to 0.1 ms clicks (12.5/s) were recorded from skull screw electrodes during a baseline period, as well as after saline and atropine treatments. Atropine sulfate was given i.p. in doses ranging from 0.250 to 40 mg/kg. Contrary to a prior report, doses in the standard pre-anesthetic range (i.e. 0.250-1.000 mg/kg) did not convincingly influence the BAEP. Only the highest dose (40 mg/kg) produced a significant and noteworthy change in the BAEP. This effect was characterized by significant amplitude increases in the P1, P2 and P3 components, but not in the P4, P5 and P6 components. This selective effect occurred at the highest stimulus intensity of 110 dB peak equivalent sound pressure level, but not at lower intensities. There were no convincing atropine-induced changes in BAEP latencies. Atropine-induced changes in the cortical auditory evoked potential (CAEP) were characterized by amplitude decrements. Thus, atropine seemed to have an excitatory effect on the BAEP and an inhibitory or depressive effect on the CAEP.