Abstract

Pattern-ERG (P-ERG) is evoked by pattern-reversal stimuli, where the pattern alternates, while the mean luminance is kept constant. P-ERG evaluates primarily the function of the retina serving the central visual field and mostly the macular region (2,5,7,9,11-13,17). In 1981 Maffei and Fiorentini studied P-ERG in cats and demonstrated that the P-ERG disappeared after section of the optic nerve. They correlated the abolition of the P-ERG with retrograde degeneration of the ganglion cells. These and other studies (7,12-13) suggest that the P-ERG originates in ganglion cells. On the other hand, detailed physiological study of P-ERG in humans showed that P-ERG contains local luminance components and therefore may represent pre-ganglionic activity (1,11,15,17-18).

© 1988 Optical Society of America