Abstract

I recently reported on a negative component in the foveal local electroretinogram (LERG) of the primate that is dependent on the sensitivity differences between the R and G cones. This R–G-cone difference signal is most readily resolved in the foveal LERG in response to low-frequency sinusoidally flickering stimuli. In this paper, I report on changes in the R–G-cone difference signal (elicited with a 670-nm test stimulus) that are induced by 670- and 470-nm chromatic adaptation and flicker frequency. Both long- and short-wavelength backgrounds reduce the cone difference signal, but the long-wavelength reduction is associated with a phase shift that is absent with short-wavelength adaptation. Following extinction of the long-wavelength background, the R–G-cone difference signal is initially absent and increases in amplitude and phase for 5 min. In contrast, following extinction of a short-wavelength background that is about equally effective on the R cones, the cone difference signal is always present and at full amplitude. The R–G-cone difference signal has a low-pass frequency response that falls off at a higher frequency and more abruptly than the accompanying positive component.

© 1982 Optical Society of America

Identification of the R–G-cone difference signal in the corneal electroretinogram of the primate

William J. Donovan and William S. Baron
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 72(8) 1014-1020 (1982)

Sinusoidal flicker characteristics of primate cones in response to heterochromatic stimuli*

Robert M. Boynton and William S. Baron
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 65(10) 1091-1100 (1975)

Inner retinal contributions to the primate photopic fast flicker electroretinogram

Ronald A. Bush and Paul A. Sieving
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 13(3) 557-565 (1996)

Flashed stimuli and the suppression of flicker response from long-wavelength-sensitive cones: integrating two separate approaches

Alvin Eisner
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 18(12) 2957-2968 (2001)

Cone interactions at high flicker frequencies: Evidence for cone latency differences?*

Bruce A. Drum
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 67(11) 1601-1603 (1977)