Instantaneous frequency maps, dipole models and potential distributions of pattern reversal-evoked potential fields for correct recognition of stimulated hemiretinae

Identification of the stimulated hemiretina in primary school children and adults based on left and right hemifield pattern reversal visual evoked potentials--a comparative study

OBJECTIVES

The analysis of left and right hemifield pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials (PVEPs) in children and the identification of the stimulated hemiretina testing different identification procedures previously applied to adults.

METHODS

Lateral hemifield PVEPs were recorded in 40 children (6-11 years) and 27 adults (25-40 years) from, at least, 19 standard electrodes. Two procedures were tested for the determination of the stimulated hemifield: firstly, the evaluation of the values of instantaneous frequency at the occipital electrodes at P100 latency (determined by the global field power), and secondly, the application of a generalised dynamic neural network (GDNN) using the PVEP time course at selected electrode positions as the external input.

RESULTS

P100 latency as well as P100 amplitude over the contralateral occiput in children were significantly greater than in adults. Contrary to the behaviour in adults, instantaneous frequency is not a robust identifier of left and right hemiretina stimulation in children. The best identification performances were achieved when using group trained GDNNs with the bipolar difference signals of electrodes P3/P4 or T5/T6 as the external input.

CONCLUSIONS

The PVEPs at electrodes P3/P4 and T5/T6 contain essential information for the determination of the stimulated hemifield. This should be further considered during the development of on-line procedures for automatic PVEP detection in future studies.

Identification of hemifield single trial PVEP on the basis of generalized dynamic neural network classifiers

This paper is concerned with the application of generalized dynamic neural networks for the identification of hemifield pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials. The identification process is performed by different networks with time-varying weights using signals from different electrode positions as external inputs. Since dynamic neural networks are able to process time-varying signals, the identification of the stimulated hemiretinae is performed without feature extraction. The performance of the method presented is compared with a reference method based on the values of instantaneous frequency at the occipital electrode positions at P100 latency.

Vector analysis of visual evoked potentials elicited by pattern reversal and photic stimuli

OBJECTIVE

The 2D VEPs to pattern reversal (PR) and LED goggle were studied in order to obtain a stable parameter for the functional assessing of posterior visual pathways regardless of the stimulus type used.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Apex c latency, bc segment amplitude (V), and bc vector orientation angle (theta) in voltage space were computed from VEPs recorded in 50 normal human beings and two patients with left posterior brain lesions, in an orthogonal Fpz-Oz and T3-T4 montage and displayed as a two channel Lissajous' trajectory. The effects of stimulus type and stimulated eye were analyzed in the normal group by a two-way ANOVA.

RESULTS

The stimulated eye had no effect on any parameter. Apex c latency was slightly longer, and V was greater and more variable in the responses to goggle stimuli, but there was no significant difference in theta, oriented to mid-occipital scalp with very low variability for both stimulus types. The patients showed significant deviations of theta towards the affected hemisphere.

CONCLUSIONS

The bc vector orientation (theta) is a stable parameter for the evaluation of the posterior visual pathways using both pattern reversal and LED stimuli, specially the latter, useful in unconscious or uncooperative patients.

Identification of the stimulated hemiretinae using a reduced number of PVEP trials

Left and right hemifield pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials (PVEP) at P100 latency are characterised by typical field distributions of potential and the spectral parameter instantaneous frequency (IF). Both parameters can be utilised for the correct identification of the stimulated hemiretina in healthy volunteers (Hoffmann, K. et al. Electroenceph. clin. Neurophysiol., 100, 1996: 569-578). The aim of this study was the investigation of the robustness of instantaneous frequency for reduced numbers of averages. Hemifield PVEP of 15 volunteers (20 channel records) were analysed. The number of averages was reduced step-by-step (64-32-16-8-4-1). For each average, the time of P100 latency was determined by the Global field power maximum between 90 and 125 ms. The stimulated hemifield was identified using the potential or instantaneous frequency values at the occipital electrode positions O1 and O2: by maximal potential and instantaneous frequency on the stimulus-contralateral side. In summary, by reduced numbers of averages (as well as by single trials) the stimulated hemiretina was correctly identified more frequently on the basis of instantaneous frequency than of potential distribution. A number of 8 averages seems to be sufficient for the correct identification of the stimulus condition. Consequently, for the identification of left and right hemifield stimulations the recording time could be reduced immensely. Instantaneous frequency is suggested as an additional and robust parameter for the selective averaging of artefact-free trials during the recording of hemifield PVEP.

Faces and emotions: brain electric field sources during covert emotional processing

Covert brain activity related to task-free, spontaneous (i.e. unrequested), emotional evaluation of human face images was analysed in 27-channel averaged event-related potential (ERP) map series recorded from 18 healthy subjects while observing random sequences of face images without further instructions. After recording, subjects self-rated each face image on a scale from "liked" to "disliked". These ratings were used to dichotomize the face images into the affective evaluation categories of "liked" and "disliked" for each subject and the subjects into the affective attitudes of "philanthropists" and "misanthropists" (depending on their mean rating across images). Event-related map series were averaged for "liked" and "disliked" face images and for "philanthropists" and "misanthropists". The spatial configuration (landscape) of the electric field maps was assessed numerically by the electric gravity center, a conservative estimate of the mean location of all intracerebral, active, electric sources. Differences in electric gravity center location indicate activity of different neuronal populations. The electric gravity center locations of all event-related maps were averaged over the entire stimulus-on time (450 ms). The mean electric gravity center for disliked faces was located (significant across subjects) more to the right and somewhat more posterior than for liked faces. Similar differences were found between the mean electric gravity centers of misanthropists (more right and posterior) and philanthropists. Our neurophysiological findings are in line with neuropsychological findings, revealing visual emotional processing to depend on affective evaluation category and affective attitude, and extending the conclusions to a paradigm without directed task.

Local luminance and pattern reversal stimuli yield different visual evoked potential topography

We studied how the stimulation of quadrants of the visual field affect brain potential topography, and we compared activity elicited by conventional pattern reversal or by local luminance stimuli. The method of quasi-simultaneous stimulation of many small visual field elements by binary m-sequences allowed us to reconstruct the potentials evoked at each of 54 visual field locations independently. Data from all field elements within each quadrant and in the whole stimulation field were summed and compared to those elicited by checkerboard reversal stimuli presented in the four quadrants or as full field stimuli. In twenty-two healthy adults evoked brain activity was recorded in 30 channels with an electrode array densely spaced over the occipital brain areas. With local flash stimuli as well as with checkerboard reversal the topographical distributions of cortical activation changed significantly with retinal stimulus location. Analysis of three components occurring between 50 and 240 ms revealed significant differences between pattern reversal and local luminance evoked brain activity. Reversal stimuli yielded not only larger amplitudes but also a completely different component structure and topography. Our results illustrate that different neuronal generators are activated by pattern reversal and local luminance stimuli although visual field location of the stimuli was identical indicating that the same retinal and cortical structures respond in a different way depending on stimulation mode.