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Variability, repeatability and test-retest reliability of equine flash visual evoked potentials (FVEPs)
L Ström1, J Bröjer2, B Ekesten2
1Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 7054, SE-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden. lena.strom@slu.se.
BMC Veterinary Research
|July 31, 2020
Summary
This study on equine flash visual evoked potentials (FVEPs) found that peak times for P2, N2, and P4 wavelets are repeatable and reliable in horses. Amplitudes showed high variability, suggesting limited diagnostic use alone.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Veterinary Ophthalmology
- Electrodiagnostics
Background:
- Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) measure neural activity in response to visual stimuli.
- Flash-VEPs (FVEPs) are used to assess post-retinal pathways, but equine data is limited.
- Understanding FVEP variability is crucial for clinical interpretation in horses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the variability, repeatability, and test-retest reliability of equine FVEPs.
- To establish normative data for FVEP parameters in healthy adult horses.
- To inform the clinical application of FVEPs in equine veterinary medicine.
Main Methods:
- Recorded flash-VEPs (FVEPs) in 17 normal adult horses.
- Assessed repeatability between eyes and between separate recording sessions.
- Analyzed peak times and amplitudes of specific FVEP wavelets (N1, P1, P2, N2, N2a, P3, P4, P5).
Main Results:
- N1, P2, N2, and P4 wavelets were consistently present.
- Peak times for P2, N2, and P4 showed low coefficients of variation and good repeatability.
- Amplitudes exhibited high variability; no significant differences were found between eyes or sessions.
Conclusions:
- Equine FVEP peak times (P2, N2, P4) are reliable and repeatable, suitable for clinical evaluation.
- FVEP amplitudes in horses are highly variable, limiting their standalone diagnostic value.
- FVEP peak times are valuable for assessing equine visual pathway function.
