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E Göpfert

Publications and source records attributed to E Göpfert.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Motion-onset visually evoked potential with nasal and temporal half- and full-field stimulation].

The known proportional increase in the amplitude of the pattern reversal visually evoked potential (VEP) with increasing stimulus area does not occur for the motion-onset VEP. When the stimulus area of the total field (6 degrees x 6 degrees) is compared to that of the half-field (6 degrees x 3 degrees), the N200 amplitude of the motion-onset VEP is not changed proportionally but remains almost constant. Reducing the pattern contrast beyond the saturation value for the motion-VEP yields essentially the same results. Contrary to the pattern reversal VEP, the amplitudes of the motion-onset VEP are found to be more pronounced for the nasal than for the temporal hemiretina. Our results support the notion of a genuine difference between the pattern- and the motion-analyzing visual system.

Adult

The human motion VEP as a function of size and eccentricity of the stimulation field.

A 'motion onset VEP' was elicited by the onset of a pattern drift. The amplitude of the most distinct wave (AN200) was determined on the following stimulation conditions: eccentricity, 0 to 23 deg; velocity. 1.5 to 16 deg/s; spatial frequency, 0.19 to 2.1 c/deg; and stimulation field size, 0.2 to 160 deg2, AN200 remained constant at any degree of eccentricity if stimulation field size, velocity, and spatial frequency were M-scaled according to Rovamo-Virsu's M-equations. AN200 decreased as a function of eccentricity if field size and velocity were kept constant (spatial frequency had minimal effect). The size of the cortical representation field (Sc) in this case varied with change in eccentricity (stimulation field size constant). In another experiment, it varied by change in stimulation field size (eccentricity constant). For both conditions, AN200 was proportional to log Sc.

Electrodes

The human motion onset VEP as a function of stimulation area for foveal and peripheral vision.

We studied amplitude of the wave N200 of the motion-onset VEP by varying the side length of a square stimulation field between 0.5 and 7 degrees. A significant increase in amplitude was obtained between 0.5 and 1 degree of side length in central stimulation and between 0.5 and 5 degrees in 10-degree peripheral stimulation. Variations of spatial frequency between 0.34 and 6.8c/deg did not modify the amplitude size, ie, no tuning effect could be found. The results of simultaneous and separate stimulation of foveal and parafoveal regions support the observation that the stimulation field size is a minor influence. Features of motion-sensitive cortical neurons, such as those found in monkeys, could account for this behavior.

Adult

[Topography of the movement visual evoked potential in the human].

The amplitudes of the motion VEP waves P100, N200 and P300 were investigated on 12 subjects at six electrode positions (2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 cm above the inion and 5 cm bilaterally from the 2.5 cm midline point). The evaluation was performed on the basis of in general 45 (for P100 32) averaged potentials per subject. Each averaged potential was obtained from 40 single potentials. P100: The amplitudes were nearly equal at all electrodes. N200: The greatest amplitudes could be found at the lateral electrodes. The amplitudes decreased in the midline in occipito-frontal direction reaching the lowest value at the electrode most frontally situated. P300: This wave had its greatest amplitude at the most frontal lead position. The amplitude decreased systematically in occipital direction. The differences in the position of the amplitude maxima and in the topographical distribution of the remaining amplitude values suggest different generator structures of the waves N200 and P300.

Brain Mapping

The influence of grating contrast on the human cortical potential visually evoked by motion.

A cortical potential was evoked by the onset of horizontal drift of a previously stationary vertical square-wave grating (motion-on VEP). The influence of contrast on the principal VEP waves N2 and P2 (peak latencies 180-220 ms and 250-350 ms, respectively) was investigated in five subjects for velocities between 0.3 and 4.1 deg/s, a spatial frequency of 2.6 c/deg and a mean luminance of 17 cd/m2. For low contrasts an ascending linear relation could be found between wave amplitude and logarithm of contrast, and a descending one between wave peak latency and log contrast. The waves remained constant for moderate and high contrasts. The lowest contrast value at which wave constancy occurred (saturation contrast) was determined by a method of least squares. All the data summarized yielded a saturation contrast of 0.058 for N2 and 0.084 for P2. The saturation contrast of the pattern VEP already known from the literature is essentially greater under comparable experimental conditions.

Adult

Influence of velocity, temporal frequency and initial phase position of grating patterns on motion VEP.

The cortical potential visually evoked by motion of a periodic grating (motion VEP) is composed of a transient component which decays within 500 ms of stimulus-onset (motion-on VEP) and a sustained component. Amplitude and peak latency of wave N2 of the motion-on VEP are functions of grating velocity. Both remain constant at spatial frequencies between 0.6 and 4.3 c/deg and at temporal frequencies within the equivalent intervals. The transient component of the motion VEP is independent of the spatial phase position of the grating before motion onset. The sustained component can only be seen in the averaged motion VEP at constant phase position of the grating before motion onset. This potential consists of periodical fluctuations with a main frequency equal to the temporal frequency of the moving grating. As a result of psychophysical investigations some authors suggest pattern velocity is the relevant variable of velocity perception, others temporal frequency. The motion VEP is dependent on both velocity and temporal frequency, the transient component is a function of velocity, the sustained component of temporal frequency.

Electroencephalography

The effect of movement adaptation on human cortical potentials evoked by pattern movement.

Human visually evoked cortical potentials (VEPs) were elicited by the onset of movement of grating patterns (test stimuli). The most prominent VEP waves N2 and P2 increased with accelerating test stimulus velocity (within a range of 0.2-4 deg/s). Two kinds of rums were presented. Reference runs involved only test stimuli and stationary pattern periods between them. In test runs moving gratings were additionally presented between the test stimuli effecting a stable level of movement adaptation. The additional movement stimulation reduced the VEP amplitudes throughout. The relative amplitude reduction was nearly constant for all test stimulus velocities if a fixed velocity of the adaptation stimulus was used. When the adaptation stimulus velocity was raised (within a range of 0.1-4 deg/s), the relative VEP amplitude became smaller. The results support the additive model of velocity coding in human occipital cortex rather than the substitutive model.

Adaptation, Physiological

[Visual evoked potential studies on human cortical coding of the speed of movement of a grating pattern].

Knowledge referring to the kind of velocity coding in human cortex can be obtained either by psychophysical methods or by recording of visually evoked cortical potentials (VEPs). With the help of adaptation experiments it is possible to distinguish between the additive and substitutive coding principle. VEPs were evoked by the onset of movement of a grating pattern (test stimulus). The most prominent waves N2 and P2 increased with accelerating test stimulus velocity within a range of 0.2-4 deg/s (see strong curve in Fig. 6a and 7a). Moving gratings (adaptation stimuli) were additionally presented in corresponding runs during the intervals between the test stimuli to attain a stable level of movement adaptation. The additional movement stimulation reduced the VEP amplitudes in general (see weak lines in Figs. 6a, 7a and relative amplitudes in Figs. 6b, 7b). When the adaptation stimulus velocity was raised within a range of 0.1-4 deg/s (see values of the abscissas in Figs. 6 and 7 indicated by symbols with arrow) the relative VEP amplitude became smaller (decrease from curve to x). This result points to the validity of the additive coding principle. The different behavior of the delta-curve supports the hypothesis of a second channel for velocities faster than 1 deg/s.

Adult

[Visual evoked potentials in pattern motion].

Our intention was to obtain a visual evoked potential (VEP) consisting only of a movement-related component for the purpose of further investigations of movement detection. This was attempted by selection of appropriate stimulus conditions. Evoked by initial movement a VEP with five typical waves was observed at the human occipital scalp. The N2-wave with a peak latency of 180-200 ms was most prominent. Following results were yielded in the experiments carried out: 1. Adaptation to a pattern movement: The amplitude of N2 and P1 is significantly reduced (Fig. 4). 2. Relation between amplitude and velocity: The experimental data could be approximated by a power function with an exponent of m = 0.3 for N2 and lower m for later waves (Fig. 5). 3. Pattern variation (grating, checkerboard, zig-zag) had no influence on N2 but on P1 and possibly also on later waves (Fig. 6). These results suggest that the wave N2 is movement-related under our experimental conditions. A pattern-related component may additionally be assumed in wave P2. Components, evoked by further reasons, may be included in the waves following N2. Their specification demands supplementary experiments.

Evoked Potentials, Visual