Freiburg Evoked Potentials (EP2000)

Downloads: EP2000 (data acquisition module) • EP2000-Plot.pxp (analysis module) • Preferences file • ep2000-setup.rtf (Jan 2005) • Stimulusparadigms (incomplete) [all are outdated, contact me for the new versions.]

“Freiburg Evoked Potentials”(EP2000) fully implements stimulation, recording and analysis of visual evoked potentials, be it from the retina (ERG, PERG) or the cortex (VEP). It runs on any standard recent Macintosh computer in demo mode, and requires just a second graphics card with monitor and the data acquisition card “PCI- MIO-16XE-50” from National Instruments. The system consists of two modules, a program for data acquisition (implemented in C++) and an analysis package running under IGOR Pro by Wavemetrics (the latter comes with full source code). [March 2004: an excellent solution now is to use the PowerMac G4 (1.25 GHz) with the video card “ATI Radeon 9000 Pro”. This model supports Mac OS 9 boot, and the video card can drive two monitors. An “ADC adaptor” to connect the second monitor is necessary. I have just tried this in London and it worked “out of the box”.]

Since Jan 2005 it is no longer possible to buy a suitable Mac from Apple – they don't offer any more OS9-bootable machines. All the more pressing it is to work on the OS X version. We’ll see, I need it myself.

In Jan 2005 EP2000 is routinely in used in 5 labs: Michelle McKerral, Montréal, Canada; Vaegan, Visiontest, Sydney, Australia; Jaegle, Tübingen, Germany; Potter, Boston, USA; and my own. EP2000 has already provided data for a number of publications.

Future roadmap: Analysis tools for grand means (done). Conversion to OS X, EEG acquisition via sound inputs, and plug-in architecture for custom stimuli still under way – I started by porting my ERG & EOG recording systems to OS X, was finished in 2007. Multifocal paradigm planned. Analysis tools are constantly updated in the lab. Should you want to use the system, don't hesitate to request the latest versions, the present page will not be regularly updated. 

Features

• Two screens: one with the stimulus, viewed by patient,
• the other screen for the operator (see picture below) sporting
  • the current stimulus pattern (in reduced size, with live update)
  • an on-line osccilloscope with signals from eye and scalp
  • patient data + status info
  • averaged traces, arranged by stimulus, on-line Fourier analysi for steady-state
• Wide range of stimuli including:
  • checkerboard reversal
  • onset/offset
  • motion onset (dart board & blobs)
  • acuity paradigm
  • flash
  • H-stimulus
  • alternating hemifield reversal
  • P300 paradigm
  • texture segregation (orientation & motion)
  • sinusoidal gratings with contrast & spatial frequency sweep
  • pulsed patterns with variable ISI
  • long-term potentiation & depression paradigms
• Sequences of stimuli (e.g. different check sizes) are interleaved for optimal comparison
• Stimuli are rendered with 800 x 600 pixel resolution at 75 Hz
• The stimulus monitor is calibrated and linearized (“gamma correction”)
• Stimulus with a fixation target of adjustable size, plus random digit to be reported by patient for fixation control
• Stimulus sequences can be exported as a movie
• On-line Fourier analysis for steady-state to allow later statistical tCirc evaluation
• Amplification can be automatically calibrated (if your preamp has a build-in calibration signal)
• Analysis is fully automated with the following features
  • full or selective plot of session data
  • 1 or 2 column display (right eye / left eye)
  • phase-free low-pass filtered trace with optionally superimposed raw data, trend removal
  • automatic peak finding, automatically taking stimulus type into account
  • optional manual peak identification
  • automatic calculation of the Fourier spectrum, where appropriate
  • graphical indication of the stimulus properties (type & shape, check size, contrast)
  • automatic acuity estimate where appropriate
  • easy transfer of analysis results to a spreadsheet program
  • export of selected traces
  • separate module for grand mean across subjects or conditions

EP2000 has been used in the following publications:

• Bach M, Maurer JP, Wolf ME (2008) Visual evoked potential-based acuity assessment in normal vision, artificially degraded vision, and in patients. Brit J Ophthalmol 92:396–403
• Dimitriu C, Bach M, Lagrèze W, Jehle T (2008) Methylprednisolone (MP) fails to preserve retinal ganglion cells and visual function following ocular ischemia in rats. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci
• Höffken O, Grehl T, Dinse H, Tegenthoff M, Bach M (2008) Paired-pulse behavior of visually evoked potentials recorded in human visual cortex using patterned double-pulse stimulation. Exp Brain Res 188:427–435
• Jehle T, Wingert K, Dimitriu C, Meschede W, Lasseck J, Bach M, Lagrèze WA (2008) Quantification of ischemic damage in the rat retina: a comparative study using evoked potentials, electroretinography and histology. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 49:1056–1064
• Lachapelle J, McKerral M, Jauffrete C, Bach M (2008) Temporal resolution of orientation-defined texture segregation: a VEP study. Doc Ophthalmol 117:155–162
• Pieh C, McCulloch DL, Shahani U, Mctier H, Bach M (2008) Maturation of the fundamental and harmonic temporal response frequencies in infant flash VEP. Doc Ophthalmol
• Ben-Shlomo G, Bach M, Ofri R (2007) Temporal and spatial frequencies interact in the contrast transfer function of the pattern electroretinogram. Vision Res 47:1992–1999
• Normann C, Schmitz D, Fürmaier A, Döing C, Bach M (2007) Long-term plasticity of visually evoked potentials in humans is altered in major depression. Biol Psychiat 62:373–380
• Bach M, Unsoeld AS, Philippin H, Staubach F, Maier P, Walter HS, Bomer TG, Funk J (2006) Pattern ERG as early risk indicator in ocular hypertension – a long-term prospective study. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 47:4888–4894
• Steigerwald WR, Potter JA, McCormack G, Troilo D (2005) Spatial Resolution in the Common Marmoset Measured With Visual Evoked Potentials. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 46: E-Abstract 5678.
• Bach M, Mathieu M (2004) Different effect of dioptric defocus vs. light scatter on the pattern electroretinogram (PERG). Doc Ophthalmol 108:99–106
• Lachapelle J, Bach M, Ptito A, McKerral M (2004) Texture Segregation in Traumatic Brain Injury – a VEP study. Vision Res 44:2835–2842
• Bach M, Schumacher M (2002) The influence of ambient room lighting on the Pattern Electroretinogram (PERG). Doc Ophthalmol 105:281–289