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In the Outer Plexiform Layer of a retina, a cone pedicle provides synaptic inputs for multiple cone bipolar cell (CBC) subtypes so that each subtype formats a parallelized processing channel to filter visual features from the environment. Due to the diversity of short-term depressions among cone-CBC contacts, these channels have different temporal frequency tunings. Here, we propose a theoretical model based on the hierarchy Linear-Nonlinear-Synapse framework to link the synaptic depression and the neural activities of the cone-CBC circuit. The model successfully captures various frequency tunings of subtype-specialized channels and infers synaptic depression recovery time constants inside circuits. Furthermore, the model can predict frequency-tuning behaviors based on synaptic activities. With the prediction of region-specialized UV cone parallel channels, we suggest the acute zone in the zebrafish retina supports detecting light-off events at high temporal frequencies.

Many demersal fish species undergo vertical shifts in habitats during ontogeny especially after larval metamorphosis. The visual spectral sensitivity shifts with the habitat, indicating a change in colour vision. Colour vision depends on sufficient ambient light and becomes ineffective at a particular low light intensity. It is not known how fishes see colour in dim light. By means of a behavioural experiment on larval African catfish Clarias gariepinus in the laboratory, we determined colour vision and colour discrimination in dim light. Light-adapted larvae were subjected to classical conditioning to associate a reward feed with a green or a red stimulus placed among 7 shades of grey. The larvae learned this visual task after 70 and 90 trials. A different batch of larvae were trained to discriminate between green and red and then tested for the ability to discriminate between these colours, as the light intensity was reduced. The larvae learned this visual task after 110 trials in bright light and were able to discriminate colours, as light was dimmed until 0.01 lx, the minimal illuminance measurable in this study, and similar to starlight. The retinae of the larvae were found to be light adapted at 0.01 lx; thus indicating cone-based colour vision at this illuminance. For comparison, three human subjects were tested under similar conditions and showed a colour vision threshold at between 1.5 and 0.1 lx. For the larvae of C. gariepinus, the ability of colour discrimination in dim light is probably due to its retinal tapetum, which could increase the sensitivity of cones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate early functional changes of local retinal defects in type II diabetic patients using the global flash multifocal electroretinogram (MOFO mfERG). Methods: Thirty-eight diabetic patients and 14 age-matched controls were recruited. Nine of the diabetics were free from diabetic retinopathy (DR), while the remainder had mild to moderate non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The MOFO mfERG was performed at high (98 %) and low (46 %) contrast levels. MfERG responses were grouped into 35 regions for comparison with DR classification at those locations. Z-scores of the regional mfERG responses were compared across different types of DR defects. Results: The mfERG waveform consisted of the direct component (DC) and the induced component (IC). Local reduction in DC and IC amplitudes were found in diabetic patients with and without DR. With increasing severity of retinopathy, there was a further deterioration in amplitude of both components. Under MOFO mfERG paradigm, amplitude was a useful screening parameter. Conclusion: The MOFO mfERG can help in detecting early functional anomalies before the appearance of visible signs, and may assist in monitoring further functional deterioration in diabetic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Our goal was to challenge both normal controls and patients with seasonal affective disorders (SAD) to various light histories and then measure their retinal response modulation using the electroretinogram (ERG) in both winter and summer. In winter and summer, 11 normal controls and 12 SAD patients were exposed to three different light conditions for 1 h (10,000, 100 and 5 lux) followed by an ERG. Groups showed similar ERG amplitudes in the 100 lux condition. Compared with the 100-lux condition, in controls, the ERG response was significantly increased in the 5-lux condition; in SAD, it was significantly decreased in the 10,000-lux condition. This pattern was present in both seasons. This is the first time a retinal response modulation anomaly has been observed in SAD patients in both the depressed and euthymic states. Retinal response modulation may represent an interesting biomarker of the disease for future research. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Ras-like Rab1 and Rab6 GTPases modulate protein traffic along the early secretory pathway and are involved in the regulation of maturation of rhodopsin in the outer retina. However, Rab GTPases have not been studied in the inner retinas. Here, we analyzed the anatomatic distribution and expression of Rab1 and Rab6 in the mouse and rat retinas by immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting. We found that Rab1 was specifically expressed in the rod bipolar cells, while Rab6 was expressed in a different cell type(s) from rod bipolar cells in the inner retina. We also demonstrated that expression of Rab1 and Rab6 was increased with light. These data provided the first evidence implicating that Rab1 and Rab6 may be involved in the regulation of the retinal adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ras-like Rab1 and Rab6 GTPases modulate protein traffic along the early secretory pathway and are involved in the regulation of maturation of rhodopsin in the outer retina. However, Rab GTPases have not been studied in the inner retinas. Here, we analyzed the anatomatic distribution and expression of Rab1 and Rab6 in the mouse and rat retinas by immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting. We found that Rab1 was specifically expressed in the rod bipolar cells, while Rab6 was expressed in a different cell type(s) from rod bipolar cells in the inner retina. We also demonstrated that expression of Rab1 and Rab6 was increased with light. These data provided the first evidence implicating that Rab1 and Rab6 may be involved in the regulation of the retinal adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Purpose: There is evidence that the inner retina is involved in eye growth control processes and the development of myopia. We sought to investigate the response dynamics of the inner retina of adult emmetropes and myopes using the global flash multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) paradigm. Methods: Fourteen myopes and 10 emmetropic subjects (mean age: 21.0±2.8 years) underwent mfERG testing using VERIS 5.1.5X. The global flash stimulus array consisted of 103-scaled hexagons which flickered according to a pseudorandom binary m-sequence (213 −1). The stimulation sequence was modified by inserting three frames, a dark frame, a global (full screen) flash, and another dark frame. The amplitude and implicit time of the two distinct waveform features, an early direct component (DC) and a later induced component (IC) of the first-order kernel were analyzed. Retinal responses were averaged over rings of increasing eccentricity, or into nasal and temporal hemifields. Results: There was a significant correlation between the DC and IC response amplitude and myopic refractive error, i.e., the greater the myopic error, the greater the response amplitude. However, when comparing between the two refractive error groups, DC and IC response amplitudes of emmetropes and myopes were similar, even after compensating for the effect of axial length. There were no significant differences in implicit times of the DC and IC in emmetropes and myopes. Conclusions: Global flash mfERG responses of emmetropes and myopes were not found to be significantly different. The measured retinal adaptation response however varied according to the degree of myopia. We hypothesize that dopamine, a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in retinal adaptation and is known to be reduced in myopic eyes, may be involved in the retinal adaptation effect observed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A neural model is proposed of how the visual system processes natural images under variable illumination conditions to generate surface lightness percepts. Previous models clarify how the brain can compute relative contrast. The anchored Filling-In Lightness Model (aFILM) clarifies how the brain 'anchors' lightness percepts to determine an absolute lightness scale that uses the full dynamic range of neurons. The model quantitatively simulates lightness anchoring properties (Articulation, Insulation, Configuration, Area Effect) and other lightness data (discounting the illuminant, the double brilliant illusion, lightness constancy and contrast, Mondrian contrast constancy, Craik-O'Brien-Cornsweet illusion). The model clarifies how retinal processing stages achieve light adaptation and spatial contrast adaptation, and how cortical processing stages fill-in surface lightness using long-range horizontal connections that are gated by boundary signals. The new filling-in mechanism runs 1000 times faster than diffusion mechanisms of previous filling-in models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study develops a neuromorphic model of human lightness perception that is inspired by how the mammalian visual system is designed for this function. It is known that biological visual representations can adapt to a billion-fold change in luminance. How such a system determines absolute lightness under varying illumination conditions to generate a consistent interpretation of surface lightness remains an unsolved problem. Such a process, called ‘anchoring’ of lightness, has properties including articulation, insulation, configuration, and area effects. The model quantitatively simulates such psychophysical lightness data, as well as other data such as discounting the illuminant, and lightness constancy and contrast effects. The model retina embodies gain control at retinal photoreceptors, and spatial contrast adaptation at the negative feedback circuit between mechanisms that model the inner segment of photoreceptors and interacting horizontal cells. The model can thereby adjust its sensitivity to input intensities ranging from dim moonlight to dazzling sunlight. A new anchoring mechanism, called the Blurred-Highest-Luminance-As-White rule, helps simulate how surface lightness becomes sensitive to the spatial scale of objects in a scene. The model is also able to process natural color images under variable lighting conditions, and is compared with the popular RETINEX model. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose To assess scotopic background adaptation in subjects with a history of preterm birth and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Retinopathy of prematurity is known to have long-term effects on rod photoreceptor and rod mediated postreceptor retinal function. Methods: Rod-mediated thresholds for detection of 3° diameter, 50 ms stimuli presented 20° from fixation were measured using a spatial forced choice method in 36 subjects (aged 9–17 years) with a history of preterm birth and 11 age similar term-born subjects. Thresholds were measured first in the dark-adapted condition and then in the presence of 6 steady background lights (−2.8 to +2.0 log scot td). A model of the increment threshold function was fit to each subject's thresholds to estimate the dark-adapted threshold (TDA) and the Eigengrau (A0, the background that elevates threshold 0.3 log unit above TDA). Results: In subjects with a history of severe ROP, both TDA and A0 were significantly elevated relative to those in former preterms who never had ROP and term-born control subjects. Subjects who had mild ROP had normal TDA but elevated A0. Neither TDA nor A0 differed significantly between former preterms who never had ROP and term-born controls. Conclusions: The results suggest that in severe ROP, threshold is affected at a preadaptation site, possibly the rod outer segment. In mild ROP, changes in the Eigengrau may reflect increased intrinsic noise in the photoreceptor or postreceptor circuitry or both.