[Visual evoked discrimination potentials in childhood].

70 children without visual, developmental or neurological handicap in the age of 3 to 92 months were investigated. Using red and white light flashes non-target event-related evoked potentials have been registrated, white light serving as rare (20%) stimulus (Fig. 1 and 5). It could be shown that in the event-related potential the peak latencies from N3 on had a significantly shorter latency than under red- or pure white-light stimulation (Fig. 2). They were called discriminative potentials. Diagrams (Fig. 4) revealed a maturating course with increasing age by decreasing latencies of the discriminative peaks. Normal values (Table 1) were compiled in order to serve as diagnostic criteria in diagnosis and follow-up of cerebral affections in early childhood.