The early receptor potential in the human electroretinogram.

The early receptor potential (ERP) of the retina was found by BROWN and MURAKAMI (1964a, b) in the monkey. The ERP has been reported to exist in some other animals and to be closely linked with the initial events of visual excitation (CONE, 1964, 1965; PAK and CONE, 1964; PAK and EBREY, 1965; BROWN, 1965; BROWN, WATANABE and MURAKAMI, 1965; PAK, 1965; ARDEN and IKEDA, 1965, 1966; BRINDLEY and GARDNER-MEDWIN, 1966). It seems of special interest to know whether or not a similar response is present in the human retina. The purpose of this paper is to describe a new rapid potential with a very short latency (less than 30 psec) in the human electroretinogram (ERG) and to infer the retinal portion responsible for the generation of this new potential. Some of our findings have been reported in preliminary form (YONEMURA, KAWASAKI and HASUI, 1966; KAWASAKI, 1966).