The visual evoked potential in the mouse—Origins and response characteristics

The visual evoked potential (VEP) in the mouse is characterized and compared to responses obtained with the electroretinogram (ERG). The results indicate that: 1, the VEP originates in the visual cortex; 2, the rod and cone pathways contribute separately to the VEP; 3, temporal tuning functions for rod and cone ERGs are low pass and band pass, respectively; VEP tuning functions are both band pass; and 4, VEP acuity is 0.62+/-0.156 cycles/degree. The differences in the spatial and temporal tuning functions obtained from the retina and visual cortex provides a tool to investigate signal processing through the visual system.