title: Nonlinear kernels of the human ERG.
abstract: In this paper we examine the use of a symmetric binary random stimulus for eliciting the ERG, and for calculating the first-order and second-order kernels of a nonlinear functional expansion of the response. We show that if the stimulus is represented in a non-dimensional form, then the units in which all kernels are measured are the same as the units used to measure the response, microvolts in the case of the ERG; further, contributions from all kernels to the response can be added without scale factors. We present the first-order and second-order kernels measured for a population of 15 normal subjects in a clinical setting. The measurements were made at various levels of adaptation ranging from photopic to scotopic conditions. The second-order kernels illustrate the processes of rapid adaptation (less than 100 ms) in the retina.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003623:Dark Adaptation; D004596:Electroretinography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008433:Mathematics; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D011897:Random Allocation