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The frequency response of normal, rod achromat and nyctalope ERGs to sinusoidal monochromatic light stimulation

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Summary

Frequency response curves of the human ERG to monochromatic light at different luminances demonstrate a Purkinje shift in the frequency domain. The rod ERG system resembles a low pass filter, whereas the cones have attributes of a higher band pass filter. The ERG appears linear at small amplitudes. The conspicuous non-linearities are saturation of the rods at high light levels and a double harmonic of the cones.

Résumé

La réponse de fréquence de l'ERG humain à la lumière monochromatique avec des luminances variées montre le phénomène Purkinje dans le domain de fréquence. Le système des bâtonnets dans l'ERG ressemble un filtre laissant passer les basses fréquences. Les cônes ont la propriété d'un filtre de bande pour les fréquences plus augmentées. L'ERG semble d'être linéair pour les amplitudes assez minces. Les non-linéarités les plus evidentes sont la saturation des bâtonnets aux niveaux élevés de lumière et une seconde harmonique des cones.

Zusammenfassung

Die Frequenz-Kurven des menschlichen ERG mit monochromatischem Lichte verschiedener Helligkeiten zeigen eine Purkinje Verschiebung im Frequenz-Bereich. Das Stäbchen-ERG ist zu vergleichen mit einem Filter, der niedrige Frequenzen ungeschwächt durchlässt. Die Zapfen gleichen mehr einem Bandfilter mit höheren Frequenzen. Das ERG hat bei niedrigen Amplituden linearen Charakter. Die bemerkenswertesten Nicht-Linearitäten sind die Sättigung der Stäbchen bei höherer Leuchtdichte und zweite Obertöne bei den Zapfen.

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From the Ophthalmology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Blindness, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Public Health Service, Department of Health Education and Welfare, Bethesda.

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Gouras, P., Gunkel, R.D. The frequency response of normal, rod achromat and nyctalope ERGs to sinusoidal monochromatic light stimulation. Doc Ophthalmol 18, 137–150 (1964). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00160570

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