The effects of low-pass filtering on the flash visual evoked potential of the albino rat

Flash visual evoked potentials (FVEPs) were recorded from the rat in order to determine the effects of low-pass filtering on the wave form. The low-frequency (high pass) filter remained fixed at 3.2 Hz while the setting of the high-frequency (low-pass) filter was progressively raised from 32 Hz to 3.2 kHz. The amplitude of the primary cortical potential (P30) steadily increased while its latency decreased until asymptotic values were recorded with a low-pass cut-off of 320 Hz. Thereafter, there was little additional change in wave form. It is concluded that a bandpass of 3.2-320 Hz is optimal to record the primary cortical response of the FVEP, and this is consistent with the theory that the P30 potential is generated by comparatively slow post-synaptic activity. In a second experiment the effects of low-pass filtering were examined on the later and more labile secondary components of the FVEP wave form. These were found to be less responsive to low-pass filtering than the early components and assumed a near optimal configuration when the high-frequency cut-off was raised to 80 Hz. The high-frequency filter setting which is most appropriate to record the primary component of the FVEP therefore appears to be more than adequate also to record the secondary responses. It is also shown that the same principles of low-pass filtering on the FVEP will apply irrespective of whether the subject is awake or anaesthetised.