Abstract
Visual evoked potentials have been shown to change with CNS maturation in children. The VEPs have not been utilized in investigating the maturational changes in premature infants due to techinical difficulties. However, using light emitting diode goggles and a compact signal averager, VEPs can be recorded easily and reliably within the intensive care setting. Forty neurologically normal infants of 23-43 weeks gestation were studied. Two or more averages, each of 64 trials, were collected to ensure reproducibility.
In all infants a negative wave was present with a mean latency of 308 msec ± 21 msec (N300). This was the only wave present in infants between 24 and 31 weeks gestation. After 32 weeks an early positive wave began to emerge. This wave had a latency of 220 msec ± 22 msec (P200). This was present, consistently followed by the negative wave, in all infants from 37 weeks onwards.
The consistency of the N300 after 23 weeks suggests that it arises from the basilar dendrites which undergo little further maturation to term. The positive wave is suggested to arise from the apical dendritic branches which develop over the last trimester, and may explain the emergence of the P200 from 32 weeks onwards. These data indicate that the LED technique can be used to confirm gestation and follow sequential maturation.
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Chin, K., Taylor, M., Menzies, R. et al. 1664 VISUAL EVOKED POTENTIALS (VEPs) IN NORMAL NEONATES. Pediatr Res 19, 388 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-01688
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-01688
