Cone spectral sensitivity and chromatic adaptation as revealed by human flicker-electroretinography

Developments in non-invasive visual electrophysiology

To study the physiology of the primate visual system, non-invasive electrophysiological techniques are of major importance. Two main techniques are available: the electroretinogram (ERG), a mass potential originating in the retina, and the visual evoked potential (VEP), which reflects activity in the primary visual cortex. In this overview, the history and the state of the art of these techniques are briefly presented as an introduction to the special issue "New Developments in non-invasive visual electrophysiology". The overview and the special issue can be used as the starting point for exciting new developments in the electrophysiology of primate and mammalian vision.

Rod- and cone-driven responses in mice expressing human L-cone pigment

The mouse is commonly used for studying retinal processing, primarily because it is amenable to genetic manipulation. To accurately study photoreceptor driven signals in the healthy and diseased retina, it is of great importance to isolate the responses of single photoreceptor types. This is not easily achieved in mice because of the strong overlap of rod and M-cone absorption spectra (i.e., maxima at 498 and 508 nm, respectively). With a newly developed mouse model (Opn1lw(LIAIS)) expressing a variant of the human L-cone pigment (561 nm) instead of the mouse M-opsin, the absorption spectra are substantially separated, allowing retinal physiology to be studied using silent substitution stimuli. Unlike conventional chromatic isolation methods, this spectral compensation approach can isolate single photoreceptor subtypes without changing the retinal adaptation. We measured flicker electroretinograms in these mutants under ketamine-xylazine sedation with double silent substitution (silent S-cone and either rod or M/L-cones) and obtained robust responses for both rods and (L-)cones. Small signals were yielded in wild-type mice, whereas heterozygotes exhibited responses that were generally intermediate to both. Fundamental response amplitudes and phase behaviors (as a function of temporal frequency) in all genotypes were largely similar. Surprisingly, isolated (L-)cone and rod response properties in the mutant strain were alike. Thus the LIAIS mouse warrants a more comprehensive in vivo assessment of photoreceptor subtype-specific physiology, because it overcomes the hindrance of overlapping spectral sensitivities present in the normal mouse.

Stimulus chromatic properties affect period doubling in the human cone flicker ERG

Period doubling in the full-field cone flicker electroretinogram (ERG) refers to an alternation in waveform amplitude and/or shape from cycle to cycle, presumably owing to the operation of a nonlinear gain control mechanism. This study examined the influence of stimulus chromatic properties on the characteristics of period doubling in order to better understand the underlying mechanism. ERGs were acquired from 5 visually normal subjects in response to sinusoidally modulated flicker presented at frequencies from 25 to 100 Hz. The test stimuli and the pre-stimulus adaptation were either long wavelength (R), middle wavelength (G), or an equal combination of long and middle wavelengths (Y), all equated for photopic luminance. Fourier analysis was used to obtain the response amplitude at the stimulus frequency F and at a harmonic frequency of 3F/2, which was used as the index of period doubling. The frequency-response function for 3F/2 typically showed two peaks, occurring at approximately 33.3 and 50 Hz. However, the magnitude of period doubling within these frequency regions was dependent on the chromatic properties of both the test stimulus and the pre-stimulus adaptation. Period doubling was generally smallest when an R test was used, even though the stimuli were luminance-equated and the amplitude of F did not differ between the various conditions. The pattern of results indicates that the mechanism that generates period doubling is influenced by chromatic signals from both the test stimulus and the pre-stimulus adaptation, even though the high stimulus frequencies presumably favor the achromatic luminance system.

An extended 15 Hz ERG protocol (1): the contributions of primary and secondary rod pathways and the cone pathway

The minimum in the amplitude versus flash strength curve of dark-adapted 15 Hz electroretinograms (ERGs) has been attributed to interactions between the primary and secondary rod pathways. The 15 Hz ERGs can be used to examine the two rod pathways in patients. However, previous studies suggested that the cone-driven pathway also contributes to the 15 Hz ERGs for flash strengths just above that of the minimum. We investigated cone pathway contributions to improve upon the interpretation of (abnormal) 15 Hz ERGs measured in patients. We recorded 15 Hz ERGs in five healthy volunteers, using a range of flash strengths that we extended to high values. The stimuli were varied in both colour (blue, green, amber, and red) and flash duration (short flash and square wave) in order to stimulate rods and cones in various ways. The differences in the responses to the four colours could be fully explained by the spectral sensitivity of rods for flash strengths up to approximately 12.5 log quanta·deg(-2). At higher flash strengths, higher-order harmonics appeared in the responses which could be attributed to cones being more sensitive than rods to higher frequencies. Furthermore, the amplitude curves of the blue and green responses showed a second minimum suggesting rod to cone interactions. We present a descriptive model of the contributions of the rod and cone pathways. In clinical application, we would advise using the short flash flicker instead of the square wave flicker, as the responses are of larger amplitude, and cone pathway contributions can be recognized from large higher-order harmonics.

The influence of retinal illuminance on L- and M-cone driven electroretinograms

The electroretinographic response to L- and M-cone isolating stimuli was measured at different luminance levels to study the effect of retinal illuminance on amplitude and phase, and how this may influence estimates of L:M ratios in the retina. It was found that the amplitude of L- and M-cone driven responses increases differently with increasing retinal illuminance: L-cone responses increase more quickly than those of M-cones. The L:M ratio does not change strongly with retinal illuminance. The phase of both L- and M-cone driven responses advances with increasing retinal illuminance. There is considerable interindividual variability in the phase difference between the two, but generally M-cone driven responses are phase advanced.

Progressive cone dystrophy with deutan genotype and phenotype

PURPOSE

To study the electroretinographic signals originating in the long-wavelength-sensitive (L) and middle-wavelength-sensitive (M) cone pathways by means of large-field and multifocal cone type-specific electroretinograms (ERGs) in a patient with progressive cone dystrophy.

METHODS

A 65-year-old male patient with colour vision disturbances (age at onset 10 years), loss of visual acuity (14 years), and central visual field defects (40 years) was investigated. Large-field flicker-ERG responses to stimuli that exclusively modulated the L-cones or the M-cones, or the two simultaneously (both in-phase and in counter-phase), were measured. Short-wavelength-sensitive (S) cones were not modulated. Multifocal ERGs (mfERGs) were also recorded, with a pattern-reversing display that modulated only the L- or the M-cones at equal cone contrasts and average quantal catches. Genetic analysis of L- and M-pigment genes was performed on genomic DNA isolated from peripheral venous blood.

RESULTS

The patient showed a normal rod-driven ERG but reduced cone-driven electroretinographic amplitudes with normal implicit times in the International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision (ISCEV) standard ERG. The large-field flicker-ERG responses to pure L-cone modulation were significantly above noise level but were substantially reduced in comparison with both normal trichromatic subjects and (otherwise normal) deuteranopes. The L-cone driven electroretinographic implicit times and phases were within normal limits. The M-cone driven electroretinographic responses were not detectable. A model fit of all the L- and M-cone driven flicker-ERG data revealed that the responses were exclusively driven by the L-cones. Consistently, the cone type-specific mfERGs showed severely reduced but detectable responses to L-cone-isolating stimuli. The M-cone driven multifocal-ERG responses were undistinguishable from noise. The L- and M-pigment gene array consisted of only a single L-pigment gene. The complete coding sequence of this gene was determined and showed no abnormality.

CONCLUSIONS

This patient exhibits a coincidence of progressive cone dystrophy and deuteranopia. The molecular genetic data of the L/M-pigment gene array is consistent with the deutan phenotype. It cannot be excluded that the rearrangement of the X-chromosome pigment gene array is responsible for the cone dystrophy in this patient. It is, however, suggested that the dichromacy and the cone dystrophy have different and independent genetic origins.

Alterations of L- and M-cone driven ERGs in cone and cone-rod dystrophies

To study the L- and M-cone pathways and their interactions in patients with cone and cone-rod dystrophies, ERG responses were measured to stimuli which modulated exclusively the L- or the M-cones, or the two simultaneously. The L- and M-cone driven ERG amplitudes were considerably reduced in the patients. The mean phases of the L-cone driven ERGs in the patients lagged those of normals significantly, whereas the mean M-cone driven ERGs were significantly phase advanced resulting in a substantial phase difference between the two ERG responses. These phase changes in the L- and M-cone driven responses in the patients cannot be detected with standard ERG techniques.

The assessment of L- and M-cone specific electroretinographical signals in the normal and abnormal human retina

Electroretinography (ERG) is a non-invasive method that can contribute to a description of the functional organization of the human retina under normal and pathological circumstances. The physiological and pathophysiological processes leading to an ERG signal can be better understood when the cellular origins of the ERG are identified. The ERG signal recorded at the cornea is initiated by light absorption in the photoreceptors which leads to activity in the photoreceptors and in their post-receptoral pathways. Light absorption in distinct photoreceptor types may lead to different ERG responses caused either by differences between the photoreceptors or between their post-receptoral pathways. The description of contributions of the different photoreceptor types to the ERG may therefore give more detailed insight in the origins of the ERG. Such a description can be obtained by isolating the responses of a single photoreceptor type. Nowadays, careful control of differently colored light sources together with the relatively well-known cone and rod fundamentals enables a precise description and control of photoreceptor excitation. Theoretically, any desired combination of photoreceptor excitation modulation can be achieved, including conditions in which the activity in only one photoreceptor type is modulated (silent substitution). In this manner the response of one photoreceptor type is isolated without changing the state of adaptation. This stimulus technique has been used to study the contribution of signals originating in the different photoreceptor types to the human ERG. Furthermore, by stimulating two or more photoreceptor types simultaneously, the interaction between the different signals can be studied. With these new techniques results of measurements in healthy subjects and patients with retinal diseases can be compared. This approach should ultimately help to develop better diagnostic tools and result in a fuller description of the changes and the pathophysiological mechanisms in retinal disorder. Finally, data obtained with cone and rod specific stimuli may lead to a reinterpretation of the standard ERG used in a clinical setting.

Flicker cone electroretinogram in dichromats and trichromats

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.

Shift of equiluminance in congenital color vision deficiencies: pattern-ERG, VEP and psychophysical findings

We compared electrophysiological responses [pattern-ERG (PERG) and VEP] and psychophysical measures to color stimuli to separate different forms of anomalous color vision. PERG and VEP were recorded from seven normals and 14 subjects with congenital color vision deficiencies. Stimuli were color checkerboards with 0.5 deg check size, phase reversing at 34 rev/sec. The luminances of the red and green parts were varied in opposite direction from 0 to 30 cd/m2, while the hue of individual squares and space-averaged luminance were held constant. This allowed for one equiluminance condition where flicker appeared fused. In the seven normals, the subjective equiluminance was reached at a luminance ratio red/(red + green) = 0.50-0.53. At that point, the PERG amplitude was moderately, and the VEP amplitude sharply reduced. In 14 color anomalous subjects both the PERG and VEP were sharply reduced at equiluminance. These dips were shifted compared to normals and the dip position corresponded to the predicted luminance ratios obtained by calculations from L- and M-cone activation using the Smith-Pokorny transformation. As we found a close correlation of the VEP-dip position and the anomalous quotient, these electrophysiological measures may allow objective assessment of color vision deficiencies.

Differences in the temporal properties of human longwave- and middlewave-sensitive cones

In recent years a number of electrophysiological and psychophysical observations have suggested that the temporal properties of the human longwave- and middlewave-sensitive cones might be different. However, until now the issue has remained unresolved, despite its obvious importance. We have succeeded in probing, electrophysiologically, the temporal properties of the two classes, under a range of adapting conditions, in a normal human observer. Here we present evidence that the temporal properties of these cone types are indeed different and that this difference is constant irrespective of the state of light adaptation, suggesting that light adaptation has little effect on the kinetics of transduction in human cones.

Spatial frequency of the human short-wavelength-sensitive (blue) cone mechanism. Psychophysical studies and pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials

The interactions of spatial and chromatic processing of the short-wavelength-sensitive cone mechanism were studied in humans with patterned (checkerboard) stimuli of various spatial frequency (10, 22, 44, and 85 min of are respectively), under steady exposure to yellow light (575 nm, 390 cd/m2). Psychophysical studies and pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials were employed. Parameters of the transient pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials (pattern reversal rate of 2.4 s-1) especially observed were the latencies of P2 (P100) and N3 and the amplitude of P2-N3. It was only with the largest applicable check size (85 min of arc) that both the psychophysical studies and visual evoked potentials could succeed in satisfactorily isolating the short-wavelength-sensitive cone mechanism. Pattern-reversal visual evoked potential latencies are recommended in the evaluation of this cone mechanism because of their smaller variance and higher selectivity in isolating the short-wavelength-sensitive cone mechanism than the amplitude. The peak sensitivity of this cone mechanism was shown to be about 449 nm at the corneal level. The short-wavelength sensitive cone mechanism represented the characteristics of low spatial resolution and long latencies of the pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials.

Cone interaction and color substitution as revealed by pattern ERG

Transient electroretinograms to a reversing color-contrast checkerboard pattern (P-ERG) were recorded in a protanomalous, a deuteranomalous, and a normal observer. Alternate monochromatic checks were of constant wavelength (630 nm red-531 nm green), while the relative energies were varied systematically. When changing the radiance ratio 630 nm-531 nm of the stimulus, the normal subject exhibited a P-ERG to all stimuli with only a relative amplitude minimum at a distinct radiance ratio, whereas the color-deficient observers failed to show a P-ERG at some color contrast 630 nm-531 nm, the radiance ratio of which was different in the protan and deutan. From the radiance ratio of color contrast for the smallest potential in the normal observer, we conclude that the green- and red-sensitive cone mechanism provides a difference signal which generates the response. The data from the color-deficient observer support the view that color discrimination in protans and deutans is reduced because the input of one type of photoreceptor is missing.

A tricolor light source for stimulation and adaptation in electroretinography

A Ganzfeld light source, fitted on an electroretinogram contact lens, is described. The light source can provide blue, green, or red flashes with intensities over a range of 3.6 log units. It can also be used to provide a continuous light-adapting background in each of the above-mentioned colors, simultaneously presenting the possibility of emitting flashes. The control unit and the light source can be powered by a small battery pack.

Factors influencing threshold of the fundamental electrical response to sinusoidal excitation of human photoreceptors

The amplitude and phase of the fundamental Fourier component of the electroretinogram (e.r.g.) in response to sinusoidally modulated light were studied in the range 7-50 Hz. Sensitivity was best at the lowest frequency. The threshold-frequency relationship divided into two parts. A weak steady background depressed sensitivity of the low, but increased sensitivity of the high, frequency component. At 8 Hz a small test spot was 0.7 log10 units more effective on the most sensitive part of the retina than on the optic disk. On the fovea, it was 0.1-0.2 log10 units less effective than on the disk. The fovea was 0.7 log10 units more sensitive to 25 Hz than the blind spot. Psychophysical and e.r.g. dark-adaptation curves were similar, but the former was 10(4) times more sensitive than the latter. Four sets of experiments examined the possibility that the Fourier component of the e.r.g. response at the modulation frequency of 8 Hz during the 'rod' phase of the e.r.g. dark-adaptation curve arose from excitation of rods alone. The only hint of a possible cone contribution was a very small but systematic increase in phase delay with increase in background wave number found while measuring the field sensitivity action spectrum. No suggestion was found that the fundamental Fourier component of threshold e.r.g. responses at the modulation frequency of 25 Hz was influenced by photons absorbed in rods.

New approaches to ophthalmic electrodiagnosis by retinal oscillatory potential, drug-induced responses from retinal pigment epithelium and cone potential

New clinical methods are proposed to assess (1) neuronal activities of the retinal inner layers including amacrine cells by means of the oscillatory potential, (2) photopic function through the rapid decay in the off-response and (3) activities of the retinal pigment epithelium through susceptibility of the standing potential of the eye to osmotic stress and to Diamox. These new methods are able to reveal otherwise undetectable retinal disorders.

[Chromatic adaptation produces opposite effects on the on and off responses of the photopic electroretinogram (author's transl)]

The electrical response of the light adapted human eye to onset (a-wave) and offset (d1-wave of the positive off-effect) of monochromatic test stimuli between 448 and 654 nm (Ganzfeld stimulation, duration of test flash 0.3 s) was recorded by means of the electroretinogram in 10 normal observers during steady illumination of various wavelengths of 2.2 log Troland. During exposure to white light the spectral sensitivity of the a-wave and off-effect as determined by a criterion amplitude of 25 micronV were similar, the sensitivity of the off-effect being 0.4 log units lower as compared to the a-wave. Blue adaptation (467 nm) decreased the sensitivity of the a-wave and increased the sensitivity of the off-effect within the short wavelengths region of the spectrum. Red adaptation (630 nm) decreased the sensitivity of the a-wave and increased the sensitivity of the off-effect within longer wavelengths. Green adaptation (530 nm) produced only a small decrease of sensitivity of the a-wave for green test light, the sensitivity of the off-effect remained constant. The opposite changes of the a-wave and off-effect during chromatic adaptation demonstrate different participation of these components in the generation of color mechanisms in the human retina.

A duplex retina and the electroretinogram in the nocturnal Perodicticus potto

The presence of cones in potto's retina has been proved beyond doubt although they are very restricted in number (1 cone for 300 rods). Morphologically, speaking there is no point in calling these cones "rudimentary" except for their slender outer segment. There are red sensitive elements in that retina at wavelengths beyond the spectral sensitivity of visual purple and it is tempting to assume that these elements are cones. The ERG evoked from these elements by red light differs from that in response to white and blue light. They dark-adapt faster than the receptors sensitive to blue and white flashes. However in some of their properties, for example fusion frequency, these cones behave like rods in other species. As these few cones seem to activate the bipolar cells nearly as effectively as the numerous rods, it is suggested that these cones may be responsible for day vision in the potto.