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Simultaneous Recording of S and Spike Potentials from the Fish Retina

Abstract

THE function of S-potential from the vertebrate retina first described by Svaetichin has still to be explained. Several suggestions have given the potential a role in dark adaptation1. The obvious way to answer this question is to obtain simultaneous recording of S and spike potential from the optic ganglion cells in various experimental conditions. This has been done by Villegas2, who concluded that when the S-potential reached a certain amplitude spikes were also seen. For this experiment he used a very small spot of light. It seems, however, extremely difficult, if not impossible, to find any kind of direct connexion between a given S-potential and a given spike discharge.

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References

  1. Svaetichin, G., Laufer, M., Mitarai, G., Fatehchand, R., Vallecalle, E., and Villegas, J., in The Visual System: Neurophysiology and Psychophysics (edit. by Jung, R., and Kornhuber, H.) (Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1961).

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  2. Villegas, J., in The Visual System: Neurophysiology and Psychophysics, see ref. 1.

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NAKA, K., KISHIDA, K. Simultaneous Recording of S and Spike Potentials from the Fish Retina. Nature 214, 1117–1118 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1038/2141117a0

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