Development of temporal properties of pattern electroretinogram and visual evoked potentials in infants
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1Istituto di Neurofisiologia C.N.R., Pisa, Italy.
Insights
Infant visual system development shows significant changes in temporal processing between 13-20 weeks. Both pattern electroretinogram (PERG) and visual evoked potentials (PVEP) mature, with post-retinal factors influencing PVEP development.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Visual system maturation in infants is crucial for cognitive development.
- Understanding the temporal processing development in early life is essential for identifying potential visual impairments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the postnatal development of temporal response properties in the human visual system.
- To characterize the maturation of pattern electroretinogram (PERG) and visual evoked potentials (PVEP) in infants.
Main Methods:
- Simultaneous recording of PERG and PVEP in infants aged 3-22 weeks.
- Utilized sinusoidal contrast reversal (4-10.5 Hz) for steady-state responses and square-wave reversal (1 Hz) for transient responses.
- Stimulus grating at 0.5 c/deg was used to assess temporal frequency functions and peak latency.
Main Results:
- Significant developmental changes in the temporal frequency function (shape and bandwidth) of both PERG and PVEP were observed, particularly between 13 and 20 weeks.
- PERG peak latency decreased with age, approaching adult values by 5 months.
- The maturation rate of PVEP peak latency differed from PERG, suggesting substantial post-retinal contributions.
Conclusions:
- Postnatal development impacts the temporal resolution of the infant visual system, with notable maturation occurring between 13-20 weeks.
- Deferred maturation of retinal and central neurons with higher temporal resolution may explain observed changes.
- Post-retinal pathways play a significant role in the maturation of visual evoked potentials during early infancy.
Abstract:
The postnatal development of the temporal properties of the responses to pattern contrast reversal has been studied by recording simultaneously the pattern electroretinogram (PERG) and visual evoked potentials (PVEP) in infants 3-22 weeks old. The stimulus grating (0.5 c/deg) was either reversed in contrast sinusoidally at frequencies 4-10.5 Hz to study the temporal frequency function of steady-state responses, or square-wave reversed at 1 Hz to evaluate the peak latency of transient responses. Developmental changes of the shape and bandwidth of the temporal frequency function of both PERG and PVEP occur post-natally and are particularly pronounced between 13 and 20 weeks from birth, possibly indicating deferred maturation of classes of retinal and central neurons with higher temporal resolution. The peak latency of the PERG decreases during the age period tested to approach adult values towards the end of the fifth month. The rate of decrease of the peak latency of the PERG differs from that of the PVEP, indicating that post-retinal factors contribute largely to the maturation of the latter, especially in the earliest life period.