Cortical and subcortical components of the pattern VEP.

Studies in the past have shown that wavelength related VEPs can be recorded from both cortical and noncortical sites. Elements of pattern-specific VEPs for both transient and pattern-reversal stimuli are also obtained from these sites. From the noncortical montage consistent responses are obtained with a major component at about 100 msec, which has been found for both the wavelength related and pattern related VEP. In contrast, the cortical VEP to both types of stimuli include two major components, at around 100 and 200 msec. In pattern reversal these components react quite differently to changes in spatial frequency. The component around 100 msec reacts strongly to a wide range of spatial frequencies when recorded from either cortical or noncortical sites. In contrast, the component around 200 msec, obtained with cortical recording, reacts very strongly to high spatial frequencies and very weakly to low spatial frequencies. This finding corresponds to recent results of single-cell studies in the macaque LGN and striate cortex.