electroretinogram Flashcards
what is an ERG ?
is a recording of changes in the resting potential in the retina when stimulated with a brief flash of light
what does an ERG show ?
it can show breaks or weaknesses in the retinal circuitry which indicates retinal disease
how does an ERG record changes in the resting potential in the retina ?
it does this by measuring changes in the electric current flowing through the eye after a light stimulus
what is electric current ?
- potential difference in volts (V) between two points is needed to induce a current
- the potential difference and resistance of the tissue determines the current size
what is evoked potentials ?
- you do something to manipulate current flow and record what happens
- transient responses that occur in response to a stimulus
- voltage changes within each cell are tiny but cells in the visual pathway are highly ordered
- can measure the summed electrical response from all the retinal cells
how are evoked potential from the retina measured ?
- evoked potentials from the retina are measured using the electoretinogram ( ERG)
- electrode at the cornea and on the temple detects current flow through the eye
- posterior - anterior - external - back of eye
- displayed as changes in potential difference
how are transient evoked potentials measured ?
- transient evoked potentials are measured by an electrode on the cornea and temple
what are the three types of electrode used ?
- reference
- earth/ground
- active
what does the exact waveform depend on ?
depends on
- stimulus wavelength
- stimulus intensity
- stimulus duration
- retinal adaption ( scotopic/mesopic/ photopic )
. these parameters can be modified to investigate different aspects of visual function
what are different forms of electrodes to get an ERG recording ?
. electrode that sits perfectly around the cornea
. silver impregnated cotton thread which you lie in the lower fornix
. J shaped gold plated foil - you hook into lower fornix
. electrode into lower eyelid and temple
what are the methods of light stimulation for ERGs?
- several methods for stimulating the eyes
. strobe lamps - can vary intensity and duration of light
. ganzfeld
what does light stimulus consist of ?
- the light stimulus consists of flashes of light for 2s.
- thus each flash of light is shorter than the integration time of photoreceptors
what is the transmission of nerve impulses in retinal receptors and neurons mediated by ?
- the transmission of nerve impulses in retinal receptors and neurons is mediated by changes in electrical potential across the cell membrane, which results in discharge (changes in potassium ions inside and outside the cell )
what happens in most nerves ?
- in most nerves, action potentials generate the discharge and there is a baseline level of continuous discharge. hence changes in frequency or rate of discharge in the nerve, an increase normally representing an increase in activity and a decrease being inhibition
what are the only retinal cells that generate action potential ?
- retinal ganglion cells generate action potential
- bipolar, photoreceptors theses generate only graded potentials, and are either positive or negative discharges
what is signal initiation ?
- the electrical response in the retina is initiated by phototransduction
- normal cell -ve inside cell, +ive outside . maintained by Na+ and K+ ion on either side
- when stimulated, there is a gradual depolarization ( inside becoming more +ve). due to influx of Na+ through opened ion channels
what happens in photoreceptors ?
- hyperpolarisation
- in the dark, ‘resting conditions’ the outer segment is depolarized as its Na+ channels are open
what can ERG detect ?
- an ERG detects these small electrical potential generated through the retina
how do ERG recordings look like ?
- they have specific, repeatable waveforms with each peak/trough giving info about different groups of retinal cells
- can be rod dominated or cone dominated
what is the a- wave in full field/global ERG ?
- sometimes called the late receptor potential is the first negative wave. this reflects the hyper polarisation of the photoreceptors (rods and/or cones )