Flicker cone electroretinogram in dichromats and trichromats

Vision Res. 1998 Nov;38(21):3391-6. doi: 10.1016/s0042-6989(97)00466-5.

Abstract

To measure cone signal strengths in the flicker electroretinogram (ERG) of dichromats and trichromats, we developed a set of flickering stimuli (30 Hz), which excite the middle-wavelength-sensitive (M-) and long-wavelength-sensitive (L-) cones independently. ERG responses to eight different ratios of L- to M-cone contrasts were recorded from each subject. The short-wavelength-sensitive (S-) cone contrast was 0% in all measurements. The recordings were Fourier analyzed to determine the amplitude of the fundamental component. ERG threshold values for each subject resulted in ellipses when plotted in an L-/M-cone contrast space. As expected, the orientations of the threshold ellipses of the protanopes (N = 2) were parallel to the L-cone axis, whereas those of the deuteranopes (N = 2) were parallel to the M-cone axis. For the trichromats (N = 5), there was considerable interindividual variation in ellipse orientation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Color Vision Defects / physiopathology*
  • Contrast Sensitivity / physiology
  • Electroretinography
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Psychophysics
  • Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells / physiopathology*
  • Sensory Thresholds / physiology