Visually evoked potentials to pattern stimuli in cortex of binocularly deprived cats

Visually evoked potentials (VEPs) were compared in 7 normally reared cats (N cats) and 9 cats deprived of pattern vision during postnatal period. In 4 deprived cats (D cats) recording was done immediately after deprivation period which lasted from 6 to 24 months. In 5 cats (DE cats) 6 months of deprivation was followed by 4-18 months of visual experience. Two stimuli were used: a large stationary stimulus (a 30 per 30 degrees grating pattern illuminated by flash) and a small moving stimulus (a smaller grating pattern was located in different parts of visual field and illuminated by a moving 1 per 4 degrees light slit). The VEPs were recorded in the marginal, suprasylvian, ectosylvian and sigmoid gyri. As compared with N cats, in D cats the VEPs in all cortical areas were of simpler form, more variable and of greater amplitude. Moreover, in contrast to N cats, in D cats the VEPs were of similar amplitude when evoked from the contra or homolateral visual field. However, results in DE cats showed that these changes are largely reversible.