A comparison of the components of the multifocal and full-field ERGs

Vis Neurosci. 1997 May-Jun;14(3):533-44. doi: 10.1017/s0952523800012190.

Abstract

The multi-input technique of Sutter and Tran (1992) yields multiple focal ERGs. The purpose here was to compare the components of this multifocal ERG to the components of the standard, full-field ERG. To record multifocal ERGs, an array of 103 hexagons was displayed on a monitor. Full-field (Ganzfeld) ERGs were elicited by flashes presented upon steady background fields. The latencies of two prominent subcomponents of the full-field ERG were altered by varying the intensity of the incremental flash or the intensity of the background field. By showing that similar manipulations of the multi-input parameters produce similar changes in latency, we were able to relate the components of the multifocal ERG to the components of the full-field ERG. The biphasic responses of the multifocal ERG appear to be generated by the same cells generating the a-wave and positive peaks of the full-field cone ERG.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Computer Simulation
  • Electroretinography / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Retina / physiology*
  • Visual Fields / physiology*