The changes of pattern reversal visual evoked potentials in normal infants.
OBJECTIVE
To study pattern reversal visual evoked potential (PVEPs) and determine the developmental character and mature time of visual function in normal infants at different months of age.


METHODS
PVEPs were recorded from 115 normal infants at 3, 6, 9, 12 months age. P1 latency for different checks (1 degree 40', 25', 6') was analyzed and compared to those of normal adults. Changes of N1, N2 latency of PVEPs were also examined.


RESULTS
P1 latency for all checks (1 degree 40', 25', 6') was significantly longer at 3 months than at 6 months of age (P < 0.05), but no significant differences can be seen after 6 months of age for larger (1 degree 40') and intermediate (25') checks (P > 0.05). P1 latency for larger checks (1 degree 40') reached adult level after 3 months of age, but not for the intermediate check (25'), while P1 latency for small check (6') presented the character of fluctuation.


CONCLUSIONS
The visual system continued to develop after birth and appeared a certain regularity. Our results showed that P1 latency for larger check (1 degree 40') reached adult levels after 3 months of age. But P1 latency for intermediate check still has not reached adult levels after 3 months of age. To determine the age at which adult levels are finally reached, infants of 12 months and older must be tested. The reason why P1 latency for smaller check (6') presented the character of fluctuation should be the temporal tuning function developing much more slowly.
Liu
Y
Y
Department of Ophthalmology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China.
Lan
Y
Y
Ge
J
J
Li
S
S
Zhou
Z
Z
D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant