Potentials in the amphibian tectum, evoked by stimulation of the optic nerve, were recorded extracellularly. Four discrete potentials, referred to as the m
1
, m
2
, u
1
and u
2
waves, occur at different latencies after stimulation. We have shown that these waves represent summed post-synaptic potentials generated by synchronous activation of four different groups of optic nerve fibres. The m
1
and m
2
waves are generated by two classes of myelinated optic nerve fibres, previously characterized as ‘dimming’ and ‘event’ fibres. The maximum amplitude of the m
2
wave occurs just below, and of the m
2
wave just above, cell layer 8 of P. Ramón. The u
1
and u
2
waves are generated by ‘edge’ and ‘convexity’ fibres, respectively. The maximum amplitude of the u
1
wave occurs near the surface of the tectum, and of the u
2
wave some 100 μm below it. Postsynaptic cell bodies for all four classes of optic fibre are located in layer 8.