We investigated the somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) produced by median nerve stimulation in normal infants, children and adults, focussing upon the wave forms of the scalp far-field potentials (FFPs). In adolescents and adults, 3 or 4 positive FFPs preceded the widespread N18 component on the scalp, corresponding to P9, P11, P13 and P14 (or P13-14). In infants and children, however, the scalp FFPs often included 5 positive waves, the initial three of which were characteristically sharp and brief. This distinctive wave form, with 5 positive FFPs, was correlated with an Erb's potential having a bipeaked negative phase. We studied the temporal relationship of the 5 positive FFPs to the Erb's potential and the cervical SEPs and concluded that the initial 3 brief positive waves were produced by overlapping of a bipeaked "P9" and bipeaked "P11." Both "P9" and "P11" are stationary waves that are thought to originate in the first-order afferents, so they probably reflect the bipeaked appearance of the compound nerve action potential.