Neocortical reactivity to peripheral stimuli in neurotics

The averaged photic-evoked responses (APER) and their dispersion pattern (DP) were investigated in tired subjects, neurotics and patients with neurotic syndromes. The appearance of an ample late negative deflection (N3) followed by a deep positive one (P3) of APER and of an atypical DP in tired subjects, neurotics and in patients with neurotic syndromes, may be considered signs of tiredness and of attention lability. A lengthening of the latencies and decrease in amplitude of different APER components, found in neurotics and in patients with neurotic syndromes only, indicated abnormalities in the function of neuronal structures involved in the organizations of responses to peripheral stimuli.