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Published on: October 24, 2019
Chromatic visual evoked potentials in paediatric population
Manca Tekavčič Pompe1, Branka Stirn Kranjc, Jelka Brecelj
1Eye Clinic, University Medical Centre, Grablovičeva 46, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia, manca.tekavcic-pompe@guest.arnes.si.
Insights
Chromatic visual evoked potential (cVEP) reliably records infant vision after 3 months, showing developmental changes in latency and amplitude. This study establishes normative cVEP data for healthy babies during their first year.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Infant visual development is crucial for cognitive and motor skills.
- Chromatic visual evoked potential (cVEP) offers objective measures of visual pathway function.
- Establishing normative data for infant cVEP is essential for early detection of visual impairments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate chromatic visual evoked potential (cVEP) response characteristics in healthy infants aged 3-12 months.
- To establish a comprehensive database of infant cVEP responses.
- To complement existing cVEP data from preschool and school-aged children.
Main Methods:
- Forty-four healthy infants (3-12 months) underwent binocular cVEP testing.
- Isoluminant red-green (R-G) and blue-yellow (B-Y) stimuli with 90% chromatic contrast were used.
- Stimuli varied in size (7° and 21°) and presentation mode; responses were recorded from Oz.
Main Results:
- cVEP responses were reliably recorded in infants older than 3 months.
- Larger stimulus size (21°) and R-G stimuli yielded shorter latencies and higher amplitudes.
- P wave latency decreased significantly with age, indicating visual maturation.
Conclusions:
- Chromatic visual evoked potential (cVEP) is a reliable tool for assessing infant vision from 3 months onward.
- Significant maturational changes in cVEP responses occur during the first year of life.
- Normative cVEP data can aid in the early diagnosis of visual system abnormalities in infants.
Background:
The purpose of this study was to investigate chromatic visual evoked potential (cVEP) response characteristics during the first year of life and to collect as large database of healthy baby responses as possible. This study also complements our previous studies on cVEP in schoolchildren and preschool children.
Methods:
Forty-four healthy babies aged 3-12 months were binocularly tested. cVEP were recorded to isoluminant red-green (R-G) and blue-yellow (B-Y) stimuli. The stimulus represented a circle composed of horizontal sinusoidal gratings with 90 % chromatic contrast and spatial frequency of 2 cycles/deg. Two stimulus sizes (7° and 21°) and onset-offset mode of stimulation (On-300 ms, Off-700 ms) were used. cVEP were recorded from Oz (mid-occipital) position with the reference at Fz. Waveform characteristics and its changes throughout the first year of life were studied.
Results:
Chromatic visual evoked potential responses were reliably recorded in all but two youngest babies. Characteristic cVEP response consisted of negative-positive-negative complex, positive (P) wave being far more prominent than both negative waves (N1 and N2). cVEP response to larger stimulus size (21°) showed shorter latency and higher amplitude to both (R-G) and (B-Y) stimuli compared to smaller stimulus size (7°). The same was true when comparing R-G versus B-Y stimulus: R-G responses showed higher amplitude and shorter latency than B-Y response, for both stimulus sizes. P wave latency shortened with increasing age throughout the first year of life, both for R-G (R (2) = 0.59) and B-Y (R (2) = 0.41) 21° stimulation. P wave amplitude did not show significant changes throughout the first year of life.
Conclusions:
Chromatic visual evoked potential can be reliably recorded after the age of 3 months and show significant maturational changes throughout the first year of life.
