VEP and Human Attention: Translation from Laboratory to Clinic

Abstract

The purpose is to review recent studies from our laboratory that used the visual-evoked potential (VEP) to assess attention in both the visually-normal (VN) and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) populations. The VEP (amplitude and latency), and attention-related alpha band responses, were assessed. The alpha responses were abnormal in those with mTBI. Furthermore, these values differentiated well between mTBI with versus without an attentional deficit. Following oculomotor vision rehabilitation, the alpha and VEP responses increased significantly. The VEP technique can be used reliably in both clinic and laboratory settings to detect attention objectively in both VN and mTBI populations.