Optoelectrophysiological stimulation of the human eye using fundus-controlled silent substitution technique

J Biomed Opt. 2011 Jan-Feb;16(1):015002. doi: 10.1117/1.3528616.

Abstract

We design, characterize, and apply a novel optoelectrophysiological setup for a fundus-controlled silent substitution technique that accounts for interindividual variability in retina morphology and simultaneously monitors the stimulation site under investigation. We connect a digital color liquid crystal on silicon projector, an electron-multiplying imager, and a light-emitting diode to a fundus camera. The temporal and spatial characterization reveal a maximal contrast loss of 7% for the highest stimulation frequency (30 Hz) and maximum cutoff spatial frequencies of ∼120 cycles∕deg. Two silent substitution flash sequences are applied to modulate selective activity in the short-wavelength-sensitive cone (S-cone) and combined long- and middle-wavelength-sensitive cone (LM-cone) pathways. Simultaneously, the visual evoked potentials are recorded. The data are compared to the grand average responses from a previous study that employed standard computer-screen presentation and showed very good latency matches. All the volunteers in the present examination exhibit differences between the S-cone and LM-cone evoked potentials (parameters mean values: peak-to-peak amplitude, N1 latency, and P1 latency for S-cone∕LM-cone responses: 8 μV∕15 μV, 113 ms∕89 ms, 170 ms∕143 ms). We demonstrate that the developed optoelectrophysiological setup simultaneously provides imaging, functional stimulation, and electrophysiological investigation of the retina.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Color Perception Tests / instrumentation*
  • Color Vision Defects / diagnosis*
  • Electroencephalography / instrumentation*
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Feedback
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Ophthalmoscopes*
  • Photic Stimulation / instrumentation*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity