Responses of the isolated mammalian retina to intermittent and steady photic stimulation

Abstract

The potential usually recorded from the isolated retina probably corresponds to the P-III component of Granit. It was found that during intermittent photic stimulation (IPS), all responses tended toward a set negative potential value but the response excursion was limited by the decay process of the potential. The rate of decay of the massed response was shown to change during the initial period of IPS, permitting greater excursions after the first few responses. Introduction of a steady light also induced a negativity which was maintained throughout the period of stimulation and would also limit the excursions of the individual responses to the IPS.