Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2026
How to Obtain Reliable Visual Event-related Potentials in Newborns
Published on: October 24, 2019
Flash visually evoked potentials in the newborn and their maturation during the first six months of life
Isabel Benavente1, Pilar Tamargo, Natividad Tajada
1Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, San Jorge Hospital, Huesca, Spain. ibenavente@salud.aragon.es
Insights
This study established normative data for flash visually evoked potentials (F-VEP) in newborns, tracking their development over 24 weeks. The P2 component and early negative components are most valuable for pediatric clinical use.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Visually evoked potentials (VEP) assess visual pathway function.
- Normative data for flash VEP (F-VEP) in newborns is crucial for understanding visual maturation.
- Understanding early visual system development is key for identifying potential abnormalities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish normative data for F-VEP components in newborns.
- To analyze the developmental trajectory of F-VEP responses during the first 24 weeks of life.
- To identify reliable F-VEP components for pediatric clinical applications.
Main Methods:
- F-VEP were recorded in 109 normal full-term newborns.
- A longitudinal study followed 55 infants from birth to 24 weeks.
- Data analysis focused on component presence, morphology, and latency, considering waking/sleep states.
Main Results:
- Significant morphological variability in F-VEP was observed in newborns.
- The P2 component was consistently present in all newborns.
- Early components appeared from 4 weeks onwards in 34% of newborns, with significant state-dependent differences.
- By 24 weeks, a characteristic triphasic waveform emerged.
Conclusions:
- F-VEP in newborns show considerable variability, suggesting differential maturation of visual pathways.
- The P2 component and early negative components are robust indicators for pediatric clinical assessment.
- P2 latency offers the most reliable parameter for establishing normative F-VEP data in neonates.
Abstract:
The aim of this paper has been to obtain normative data for the major components of the visually evoked potentials obtained by flash stimulus (F-PEV) in the newborn, and to analyse the evolution of these responses during the first 24 weeks of life. In order to do so, F-VEP were recorded in 109 normal full-term newborn infants. Fifty-five of these infants were also studied longitudinally at 4, 8, 12 and 24 weeks. We recorded responses in all newborns. A great morphological variability was observed. P2 was the only component present in all of these infants. Early components, which were always present from the fourth week of life on, were recorded in 34% of the newborns. There were significant differences according to waking/sleep state. At 24 weeks the most characteristic response was a triphasic waveform with clear negative-positive-negative components at 67.9, 110 and 158.3 ms. The morphological variability observed in the F-PEV of the newborn and the presence of early components in some cases, suggest differences in the maturation of the specific and unspecific visual system at birth. The study of these responses provides us with information about certain aspects of visual maturation. The relative stability of P2 response of the newborn and of the early negative components later on, made them the most useful components to be used in paediatric clinical work . The latency of P2 in the newborn is the parameter that showed lower variability, and therefore the most suitable one to establish normative data.
