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Documenta Ophthalmologica

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01-10-2015 | Original Research Article

A method for estimating intrinsic noise in electroretinographic (ERG) signals

Authors: Andrew J. Zele, Beatrix Feigl, Pradeep K. Kambhampati, Amithavikram R. Hathibelagal, Jan Kremers

Published in: Documenta Ophthalmologica | Issue 2/2015

Abstract

Purpose

To develop a signal processing paradigm for extracting ERG responses to temporal sinusoidal modulation with contrasts ranging from below perceptual threshold to suprathreshold contrasts and estimate the magnitude of intrinsic noise in ERG signals at different stimulus contrasts.

Methods

Photopic test stimuli were generated using a 4-primary Maxwellian view optical system. The 4-primary lights were sinusoidally temporally modulated in-phase (36 Hz; 2.5–50 % Michelson contrast). The stimuli were presented in 1-s epochs separated by a 1-ms blank interval and repeated 160 times (160.160-s duration) during the recording of the continuous flicker ERG from the right eye using DTL fibre electrodes. After artefact rejection, the ERG signal was extracted using Fourier transforms in each of the 1-s epochs where a stimulus was presented. The signal processing allows for computation of the intrinsic noise distribution in addition to the signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio.

Results

We provide the initial report that the ERG intrinsic noise distribution is independent of stimulus contrast, whereas SNR decreases linearly with decreasing contrast until the noise limit at ~2.5 %. The 1-ms blank intervals between epochs de-correlated the ERG signal at the line frequency (50 Hz) and thus increased the SNR of the averaged response. We confirm that response amplitude increases linearly with stimulus contrast. The phase response shows a shallow positive relationship with stimulus contrast.

Conclusions

This new technique will enable recording of intrinsic noise in ERG signals above and below perceptual visual threshold and is suitable for measurement of continuous rod and cone ERGs across a range of temporal frequencies, and post-receptoral processing in the primary retinogeniculate pathways at low stimulus contrasts. The intrinsic noise distribution may have application as a biomarker for detecting changes in disease progression or treatment efficacy.

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Title: A method for estimating intrinsic noise in electroretinographic (ERG) signals
Authors: Andrew J. Zele
Beatrix Feigl
Pradeep K. Kambhampati
Amithavikram R. Hathibelagal
Jan Kremers
Publication date: 01-10-2015
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Documenta Ophthalmologica / Issue 2/2015
Print ISSN: 0012-4486
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2622
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10633-015-9510-1

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Springer Medicine

A method for estimating intrinsic noise in electroretinographic (ERG) signals

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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