[An electrophysiological study of direct occipito-frontal connections in centrum semi-ovale of Papio papio]

1. Evoked responses to single visual stimuli (VEP) and driving by intermittent light stimulation (ILS) were recorded with macroelectrodes from the central white matter (centrum semiovale) of 12 Papio papio baboons. 2. Two types of VEP were identified: VEPs with constant morphology, localized in the long associative bundles connecting the occipital, temporal and frontal lobes; VEPs with variable morphology and without any preferential localization; these probably originate from other types of fibres also belonging to the centrum semi-ovale. 3. Concerning the long associative bundles which have been individualized, they might be the equivalent of the occipito-frontal and the superior and inferior longitudinal bundles well known in man. The fusion frequency observed in these bundles during ILS increases from the frontal to the occipital lobe, because of their involvement (particularly in the parieto-temporal region) with other fibres of the centrum semi-ovale also likely to be driven by ILS. The existence of driving by ILS in these bundles demonstrates an activation of the frontal lobe by visual impulses.