Flicker ERGs representing chromaticity and luminance signals.

Purpose: To test the hypothesis that electroretinograms (ERGs) reflect luminance activity when measured at high temporal frequencies and chromatic activity when measured near 12 Hz.

Methods: The authors measured the responses to stimuli in which the output of red and green light-emitting diodes was modulated in counterphase at different ratios, varying the luminance content in the stimulus while keeping the red-green chromatic contrast and its phase constant.

Results: The high temporal frequency electroretinography was determined mainly by the luminance contrast. At 12 Hz, electroretinographic response amplitudes and phases primarily reflected the red-green chromatic content of the stimulus. Control experiments, performed with a deuteranopic subject and with stimuli that silenced the rods and S-cones, excluded an explanation based on intrusion from rod- and S-cone-driven responses.

Conclusions: It now is possible to perform noninvasive measurements of basic electrophysiological properties of the luminance and chromatic pathways on a retinal level, and their disease-related changes, in human observers.