Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gvvz8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-18T20:13:22.795Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A computational model of the amplitude and implicit time of the b-wave of the human ERG

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 June 2009

Donald C. Hood  and
David G. Birch
Donald C. Hood
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Columbia University, New York
David G. Birch
Affiliation:
Retina Foundation of the Southwest, Dallas
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

To improve the usefulness of the ERG in identifying the sites and mechanisms of adaptation, development, and disease processes, a theoretical framework based upon Granit's analysis of the ERG was evaluated. The framework assumes that the ERG is the sum of two potentials, one, P3, generated by the receptors and the other, P2, generated by the cells of the INL. Hood and Birch (1990a, b) demonstrated that the leading edge of the a-wave can be quantitatively described by a model used to describe the response from single rod receptors. This model provides P3(t), a theoretical receptor response as a function of time, for any given flash intensity. The ERGs from normal observers and patients with retinal diseases were analyzed in this framework, first by deriving P2 by computer subtracting the predicted P3(t) responses. This analysis was successful and a computational model of the ERG was then derived. The model of P2(t) was constructed with linear filters and a static nonlinearity and using P3(t) as the input. The ERG for any given flash intensity is then P3(t) + P2(t) The model describes (1) the change both in implicit times and in trough-to-peak b–wave amplitudes with flash intensity for the normal, dark-adapted observers; and (2) the changes in b–wave implicit times and amplitudes for three patients with retinal diseases.

Among the implications drawn from these analyses were as follows: (1) The fits of the Naka-Rushton equation to trough-to-peak b–wave amplitudes must be interpreted with great care. (2) When the INL is affected by retinal disease, the b–wave may be a very poor reflection of INL activity. (3) The implicit time of the b–wave can provide a measure of receptor sensitivity.

Keywords

b–waveERGHumanRodPhotoreceptors
Type
Research Articles
Information
Visual Neuroscience , Volume 8 , Issue 2 , February 1992 , pp. 107 - 126
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Arden, G.B., Carter, R.M., Hogg, C.R., Powell, D.J., Ernst, W.J.K., Clover, G.M., Lyness, A.L. & Quinlan, M.P. (1983). A modified ERG technique and the results obtained in X-linked retinitis pigmentosa. British Journal of Ophthalmology, 67, 419–430.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Baylor, D.A., Nunn, B.J. & Schnapf, J.L. (1984). The photocurrent, noise, and spectral sensitivity of rods of the monkey Macaca fascicularis. Journal of Physiology 357, 575–607.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Berson, E.L. (1975). Electrical phenomena in the retina. In Adler's Physiology of the Eye, ed. Moses, R.A., pp. 453–499. New York: C.V. Mosby Co.Google Scholar
Birch, D.G. (1989). Clinical electroretinography. In Ophthalmology Clinics of North America, ed. Stampfer, R.L., pp. 469–498. New York: W. B. Saunders Co.Google Scholar
Birch, D.G. & Anderson, J.L. (1990). Rod visual fields in cone-rod degeneration. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 31, 2288–2299.Google ScholarPubMed
Birch, D.G. & Fish G.E. (1986). Rod ERGs in children with hereditary retinal degeneration. Journal of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus 23, 227–232.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Birch, D.G. & Fish, G.E. (1987). Rod ERGs in retinitis pigmentosa and cone-rod degeneration. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 28, 140–150.Google ScholarPubMed
Birch, D.G., Herman, W.K., Defaller, J.M., Disbrow, D.T. & Birch, E.E. (1987). The relationship between rod perimetric thresholds and full-field rod ERGs in retinitis pigmentosa. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 28, 954–965.Google ScholarPubMed
Birch, E.E., Birch, D.G., Petrig, B. & Uauy, R. (1989). Retinal and cortical function of very low birthweight infants at 36 and 57 weeks postconception. Clinical Vision Research 5, 363–373.Google Scholar
Breton, M.E. & Montzka, D. (1990). Isolation of receptor photocurrent response in the gross electroretinogram. Optical Society of America Technical Digest Series 3, 58–61.Google Scholar
Brown, K.T. (1968). The electroretinogram: Its components and their origin. Vision Research 8, 633–678.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brunette, J.R. & Lafond, G. (1978). Timing of the electroretinogram response and dark adaptation. Le Journal Canadien Des Sciences Neurologiques 5, 179–182.Google ScholarPubMed
Copenhagen, D.R., Ashmore, J.F. & Schnapf, J.K. (1983). Kinetics of synaptic transmission from photoreception to horizontal and bipolar cells in turtle retina. Vision Research 23, 363–369.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Frishman, L.J., Sieving, P.A. & Steinberg, R.H. (1988). Contributions to the electroretinogram of currents originating in proximal retina. Visual Neuroscience 1, 307–315.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fulton, A.B. & Hansen, R.M. (1982). Background adaptation in human infants: analysis of b-wave responses. Documenta Opthalmologica 31, 191–197.Google Scholar
Fulton, A.B. & Hansen, R.M. (1985). Electroretinography: Application of clinical studies of infants. Journal of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus 22, 251–255.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fulton, A.B. & Hansen, R.M. (1988). Scotopic stimulus/response relations of the b-wave of the electroretinogram. Documenta Ophthalmologica 68, 293–304.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fulton, A.B. & Rushton, W.A.H. (1978). The human rod ERG: Correlation with psychophysical responses in light and dark adaptation. Vision Research 18, 793–800.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Goodman, G. & Bornschein, H. (1957). Comparative electroretinographic studies in congenital night blindness and total color blindness. Archives Ophthalmology 58, 174–182.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Granit, R. (1933). The components of the retinal action potential in mammals and their relation to the discharge in the optic nerve. Journal of Physiology 77, 207–239.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Granit, R. (1947). Sensory Mechanism of the Retina. London: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Heynen, H.G.M. & Van Norren, D. (1985 a). Origin of the electroretinogram in the intact macaque eye —I. Principle component analysis. Vision Research 25, 697–707.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Heynen, H.G.M. & Van Norren, D. (1985 b). Origin of the electroretinogram in the intact macaque eye. II. Current source-density analysis. Vision Research 25, 709–715.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hood, D.C. (1988). Testing hypotheses about development with ERG and incremental threshold data. Journal of the Optical Society of America 5, 2159–2165.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hood, D.C. (1990). The ERG and sites and mechanisms of retinal disease, adaptation, and development. In Advances in Photoreception, pp. 41–58. Washington, D.C: National Academy Press.Google Scholar
Hood, D.C. & Birch, D.G. (1989). The ERG and sites and mechanisms of rod system adaptation. Optical Society of America Technical Digest Series 7, 174–177.Google Scholar
Hood, D.C. & Birch, D.G. (1990 a). The a-wave of the human ERG and rod receptor function. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 31, 2070–2081.Google ScholarPubMed
Hood, D.C. & Birch, D.G. (1990 b). A quantitative measure of the electrical activity of human rod photoreceptors using electroretinography. Visual Neuroscience 5, 379–387.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hood, D.C. & Birch, D.G. (1990 c). Light adaptation of human rod receptors. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science (Suppl.) 31, 493.Google Scholar
Hood, D.C. & Birch, D.G. (1991). Models of human rod receptors and the ERG. In Computational Models of Visual Processing, ed. Lambdry, M. & Movshon, A.Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press (in press).Google Scholar
Hood, D.C. & Greenstein, V. (1990). Models of the normal and abnormal rod system. Vision Research 30, 51–68.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ikeda, H. & Ripps, H. (1966). The electroretinogram of a cone-monochromat. Archives Ophthalmology 75, 513–517.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Johnson, M.A. & Hood, D.C. (1988). A theoretical interpretation of ERG abnormalities in central retinal vein occlusion. Optical Society of America Technical Digest 3, 84–87.Google Scholar
Johnson, M.A., Marcus, S., Elman, M.J. & Mcphee, T.J. (1988). Neovascularization in central retinal vein occlusion: Electroretinographic findings. Archives Ophthalmology 106, 348–352.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Johnson, M.A. & Massof, R.W. (1988). Photoreceptor sensitivity loss in patients with central retinal vein occlusion and iris neovascularization. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science (Suppl.) 29, 179.Google Scholar
Karwoski, C.J. & Proenza, L.M. (1987). Sources and sinks of lightevoked Δ[K+]o in the vertebrate retina. Canadian Journal of Physiological Pharmacology 65, 1009–1017.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Keunen, J.E.E., Van Meel, G.J. & Van Norren, D. (1988). Rod densitometry in congenital stationary night blindness. Applied Optics 27, 1050–1056.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lachapelle, P. & Molotchnikoff, S. (1986). Components of the electroretinogram: A reappraisal. Documenta Ophthalmologica 63, 337–348.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Marmor, M.F., Arden, G.B., Nilsson, S.E.G. & Zrenner, E. (1989). Standard for clinical electroretinography. Archives of Ophthalmology 107, 816–819.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Massof, R.W., Wu, L., Finkelstein, D., Perry, D., Starr, S.J. & Johnson, M.A. (1984). Properties of electroretinographic intensity-response functions in retinitis pigmentosa. Documenta Ophthalmologica 57, 279–296.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mets, M.B., Pass, A., Smith, V.C., Pokorny, J. & Neilsen, J. (1989). The electroretinogram in the first year of life in very low birthweight humans. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science (Suppl.) 30, 317.Google Scholar
Miller, R.F., Dacheux, R. & Proenza, L.M. (1977). Muller cell depolarisation evoked by antidromic optic nerve stimulation. Brain Research 121, 161–166.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Miller, R.F. & Dowling, J.E. (1970). Intracellular responses of the Muller (glial) cells of the mudpuppy retina: Their relation to b-wave of the electroretinogram. Journal of Neurophysiology 33, 323–341.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Newman, E.A. & Odette, L.L. (1984). Model of electroretinogram b-wave generation: A test of the K+ hypothesis. Journal of Neurophysiology 51, 164–183.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Peachey, N.S., Alexander, K.R. & Fishman, G.A. (1989). The luminance-response function of the dark-adapted human electroretinogram. Vision Research 29, 263–270.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Peachey, N.S., Charles, H.C., Lee, C.M., Fishman, G.A.Cunha-Vaz, J.G. & Smith, R.T. (1987). Electroretinographic findings in sickle cell retinopathy. Archives of Ophthalmology 105, 934–938.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Penn, R.D. & Hagins, W.A. (1972). Kinetics of the photocurrent of retinal rods. Biophysical Journal 12, 1073–1094.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Riggs, L.A. (1965). Electrophysiology of vision. In Vision and Vision Perception, ed. Graham, C.H., pp. 81–131. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.Google Scholar
Sieving, P.A., Frishman, L.J. & Steinber, R.H. (1986). Scotopic threshold response of proximal retina in cat. Journal of Neurophysiology 56, 1049–1061.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sieving, P.A. & Nino, C. (1988). Scotopic threshold response (STR) of the human electroretinogram. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 29, 1608–1614.Google ScholarPubMed
Stockton, R.A. & Slaughter, M.M. (1989). B-wave of the electroretinogram: A reflection of ON bipolar activity. Journal of General Physiology 93, 101–122.CrossRefGoogle Scholar