Clinical application of visual evoked fields using an MRI-linked whole head MEG system

We have demonstrated anatomo-functional correlation of the brain visual function using an MRI-linked whole-head magnetoencephalography system. Visual evoked magnetic fields (VEFs) due to pattern reversal stimuli were measured in seven healthy subjects and 13 patients with intracranial structural lesions. Full-field stimuli evoked the most prominent peak around 100 ms latency (P100m) as a two-dipole pattern over the occipital area in all of the normal subjects and four patients with mild and partial hemianopsia. In five patients with homonymous hemianopsia due to unilateral occipital lesion, a single-dipole pattern of the P100m appeared over the normal occipital area only. In four patients with bitemporal hemianopsia due to pituitary tumors, a single-dipole pattern of the P100m appeared only over the ipsilateral occipital area to the stimulated eye. Using current dipole models, P100m sources were localized at the lateral bottom of the calcarine fissures. Although human occipital lobes are known to be morphologically variable, our results indicate excellent correlation of the cortical anatomy and human visual function. Full-field stimuli, requiring no strict visual fixation, are especially useful for clinical application. A clear two-dipole pattern in the normal VEFs enables us to compare two hemispheric activities.