Studies on Centrifugal Effects on the Retina: A Corneo-Negative Potential in a Non-Illuminated Eye

AbstractIt was observed that an eye that was totally shielded from light, or one which had been rendered functionless by interruption of its blood supply, gave a negative potential upon illumination of the other eye. This potential was the mirror-image of the b-wave of the normal ERG, and under favourable conditions (good dark adaptation and strong illumination of the functioning eye) it was even possible to discern the mirror-image of the a-wave as a small positive inflection preceeding the negative wave. The origin of this phenomenon was investigated in various series of experiments. These showed the phenomenon to be due to transmitted potential differences originating in the functioning eye and conducted via the intervening tissues. The negative reaction could be let off from all points in the neighboorhood of the blind or occluded eye, and even from a pad of saline-soaked gauze placed in the empty orbit. The phenomenon was also reproduced in a human subject who had lost one eye.