Life-span change in visually evoked potentials at central scalp.
Three intensities of patterned flash were used to elicit visually evoked potentials (VEPs) from central scalp of 220 healthy males aged 4-90 years. Intensities were based on visual thresholds. VEP components from children and oldsters were generally larger than those of subjects of intermediate ages and, in response to increased flash intensity, demonstrated greater amplitude enhancement. This pattern of age changes is thought to reflect decreased cortical inhibition in the young and the old with inhibitory capacity being maximal during late adolescent and early adult years. Hemispheric asymmetries were observed. VEP amplitudes from the right hemisphere were larger than those from the left and demonstrated a greater amplitude augmentation to brighter flashes.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D012535:Scalp / Q000294:innervation