Oscillations of Potential in the Electroretinogram of the Lobster

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Abstract
The electroretinogram (ERG) evoked in the lobster by a short flash of light consists of a highly damped, slow oscillation of potential, triggered apparentlyby a single excitatory process. Near the threshold, only one wave may be evident; but as the intensity of stimulus rises, a prior wave appears, and grows so much more rapidly as to become dominant. Simultaneously 3rd and later waves appear, so that at high intensities the response may include 5 to 7 waves. Dark adaptation favors the 2nd and later waves relative to the 1st; light adaptation tends to suppress them. Cn turning on a steady light the oscillations are superimposed on the early stages of development of a maintained, steady-state potential (on-response). Turning off the light causes a rapid fluctuation of potential followed by a similarly damped slow oscillation (off-response). These phenomena resemble in part oscillations recently observed in the b wave of the ERG of many vertebrates including man.

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