[Changes in spontaneous slow potentials and visually (flash) evoked potentials in response to stimuli with no performance implication]

Abstract

The influence of spontaneous slow potential shifts (SPSs) on visual (flash-)evoked potentials (VEPs) was studied. Eighteen subjects received 100 flashes. The sequence of interstimulus-intervals (ISIs) was pseudo-randomized. ISI-durations were 3, 5, 7, 9 or 11 seconds. EEG was recorded from Fz, Cz, Pz and Oz with linked-mastoids as reference. EEG was EOG-corrected and VEPs were calculated for preceding positive SPSs. Averaging was done for local SPSs; VEP pairings as well as VEPs were calculated over occipital SPS-polarities. Results showed an influence of SPSs on VEP-amplitudes. Differences in amplitudes were interpreted with the 'activation-correction'-hypothesis and with the 'ceiling'-hypothesis. Negative SPSs were followed by smaller negative peaks, and positive SPSs were followed by smaller positive peak-amplitudes. Differences in latencies of N145-P300 peak-to-peak amplitudes after SPSs of different polarity were explained with the threshold-regulation hypothesis. Spectral-analysis were done for SPS-data. There were only poor effects, showing increased parietal alpha 2-power after negative SPSs.