Scalp potential fields evoked by grating stimuli: effects of spatial frequency and orientation.

Visually evoked potentials were recorded from an array of 16 electrodes over the occipital cortex in 12 subjects. Grating stimuli of different spatial frequencies were presented on a circular test field, and potential fields evoked by vertical, horizontal and oblique stimuli were compared. Component latencies were determined by computing a reference-independent measure of field power. Scalp field maps were constructed at component latencies and compared over all conditions. Significant influences of both spatial frequency and orientation on component latencies were found. Component latencies were shortest for 2.3 c/deg gratings, and for vertically oriented stimuli. Latencies increased for horizontal, and further for oblique, gratings. The effect of spatial frequency or orientation on the location of the major components on the scalp was less pronounced. On the other hand, there were significant differences both in component latency and scalp distribution when upper and lower hemiretinal stimuli were compared. Upper hemiretinal stimulation yielded shorter latencies and a more anteriorly located potential peak on the scalp.