Coding of light intensity and stimulus duration in the receptor potential of the isolated rabbit retina

The receptor potential of the isolated rabbit retina was recorded between a microelectrode approximately 80 microns deep from the inner limiting membrane and a reference electrode at the receptor side. Amplitude and slope of the receptor potential and the area under it were measured as a function of increasing stimulus intensity and the amplitude and duration of the receptor potential as a function of stimulus duration. The amplitude depends on the intensity and duration of the stimulus. The slope is the single parameter which changes only with light intensity. The slope follows a power function with n = 0.36. The duration of rabbit receptor potential is linearly related to the duration of long stimuli (greater than 1 s for intensities tested).