Pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials and retinal eccentricity.

The effect of stimulation of discrete areas of the retina on visual evoked potentials (VEP) was studied in 16 normal volunteers. The stimulus consisted of a constant luminance 2 degrees 18' field containing checks of 34'30' reversing at a frequency of 500 msec. The amplitude of the VEP was highest at the fixation point and inside the 2 degrees isopter. Rapid amplitude decrement was noted with stimuli located within the 2-4 degrees isopters. No identifiable response was obtained outside the 4 degrees or 6 degrees isopter with a 2 degrees 18' stimulus. VEP could, however, be elicited by increasing the size of the stimulus. The smallest size of a field required to evoke a detectable response also varied in relations to retinal eccentricity. Stimulation at 0 degree, 8 degrees and 14 degrees horizontal eccentricities with fields of a size estimated to activate an equivalent amount visual cortex produced VEPs of similar amplitude.