Analysis of striate activity underlying the pattern onset EP of children.

The checkerboard onset Evoked Potential (EP) does not obtain its adult form before puberty. To determine the site of origin of these processes we studied the origin of the checkerboard onset EP in a group of 10 children between the ages of 6 and 16 years. Since the development of the waveform of the pattern onset EP varies with check size we also studied the dependence of these EPs on check size. The child checkerboard onset EPs described in this paper are dominated by a single source. Following an equivalent dipole source localization approach, the position, orientation and variation in strength of the equivalent dipole is estimated. The position and orientation of this dipole indicates an origin in the primary visual cortex (area 17). The variation in strength of the dipole changes from a single positive deflection, specific for children of 8 years and younger, into a negative-positive complex for the children studied between the age of 9 and 16 years. These changes in waveform must be due to changes in the activity pattern of the striate cortex.