title: Topography of retinal recovery processes in humans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to examine retinal recovery processes to pographically by the application of three flash sequences with specific interstimulus intervals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve healthy subjects underwent multifocal electroretinography with a light-emitting diode stimulator. Every flash sequence consisted of three flashes with 25 msec between the first and the second flash and 35 msec between the second and the third flash. The interval between the third and the first flash of the next step was 85 msec. The interstimulus interval-dependent amplitude reductions of the multifocal electroretinographic response for these three intervals yielded three data points that were used to determine the complete curve of the recovery kinetics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Amplitude reductions were higher with shorter interstimulus intervals. The mean half-life periods of the recovery kinetics for the different concentric rings and all subjects were: ring 1, 29.3±5.9 msec; ring 2, 24.2±6.4 msec; ring 3, 23±4.1 msec; ring 4, 23.1±4.6 msec; and ring 5, 22.3±4.4 msec. The differences between the first and all other rings were statistically significant (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The kinetics of the amplitude recovery after short interstimulus intervals showed a spatial distribution, with faster recovery toward the macular periphery.
authors.affiliation: RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Babac E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Mazinani
authors.affiliation: RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Merx
authors.affiliation: RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Niklas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Plange
authors.affiliation: RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.affiliation: RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Gernot F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Roessler
keywords: LED stimulator; electroretinography; interstimulus interval; multifocal; recovery