The propagation potential. An axonal response with implications for scalp-recorded EEG

Evidence that the compound action potential (CAP) from the auditory nerve is a stationary potential generated across dura mater

We have investigated the generation of the compound action potential (CAP) from the auditory nerve of guinea pigs. Responses to acoustic tone-bursts were recorded from the round window (RW), throughout the cochlear fluids, from the surface of the cochlear nucleus, from the central end of the auditory nerve after removal of the cochlear nucleus, from the scalp vertex, and from the contralateral ear. Responses were compared before, during and after experimental manipulations including pharmacological blockade of the auditory nerve, section of the auditory nerve, section of the efferent nerves, removal of the cochlear nucleus, and focal cooling of the cochlear nerve and/or cochlear nucleus. Regardless of the waveform changes occurring with these manipulations, the responses were similar in waveform but inverted polarity across the internal auditory meatus. The CAP waveforms were very similar before and after removal of the cochlear nucleus, apart from transient changes that could last many minutes. This suggests that the main CAP components are generated entirely by the eighth nerve. Based on previous studies and a clear understanding of the generation of extracellular potentials, we suggest that the early components in the responses recorded from the round window, from the cochlear fluids, from the surface of the cochlear nucleus, or from the scalp are a far-field or stationary potential, generated when the circulating action currents associated with each auditory neurone encounters a high extracellular resistance as it passes through the dura mater.

Recognition potential: sensitivity to visual field stimulated

The recognition potential (RP) was distinguished from P3 and eye blink responses by its sensitivity to visual area stimulated. Images were flashed in upper and lower hemifields. Current source density profiles were computed, using 16 midline scalp electrodes. For P3 and eye blink profiles, the hemifield stimulated was not a significant factor. For the recognition potential, upper and lower field stimulation produced radically different profiles. An improved recognition potential signal was obtained by a new mathematical procedure. It used the difference in sensitivity to visual area stimulated to reject P3 and eye blink responses.

A neurophysiologic correlate of visual short-term memory in humans

Neurophysiological investigations in non-human primates and neuropsychological studies in patients with lesions indicate that the inferotemporal cortex is critically involved in visual object recognition. We have recorded event-related potentials from 31 electrodes in a group of healthy normal individuals performing a modified delayed matching to sample task. We have identified a visual memory potential (VMP) which indexes visual short-term memory in humans. This component of the event-related brain potential occurs as early as 170 msec, is maximal at 240 msec, and is generally located in the temporal region. Both the temporal and spatial characteristics of the VMP in humans are in keeping with single cell studies in monkeys.