Temporal resolution and temporal transfer properties: Gabaergic and cholinergic mechanisms

Temporal resolution is a basic property of the visual system and critically depends upon retinal temporal coding properties which are also of importance for directional coding. Whether the temporal coding properties for directional coding derive form inherent properties or critically depend upon the temporal coding mechanisms is unclear. Here, the influence of acetylcholine and GABA upon photopic temporal coding was investigated in goldfish, using flicker stimuli, in a behavioral and an electrophysiological (ERG) approach. The goldfish temporal resolution ability decreased from more than 90% correct choices at 20 Hz flicker frequency to about 65% at 45 Hz flicker frequency with a flicker fusion frequency of approximately 39 Hz. Blockade of GABAa-receptors reduced the flicker fusion frequency to about 23 Hz, not affecting temporal resolution below 20 Hz flicker frequency. Partial blockade of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors reduced the flicker fusion frequency slightly and lowered the temporal resolution ability in the 25–30 Hz range. Blockade of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors had a smaller effect than the partial blockade of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. In ERG-recordings, blocking GABAa-receptors increased the a- and b-wave amplitude, induced a delay, an increase and a slow fall-off of the d-wave. Blocking GABAc-receptors had little effect. Blocking GABAa- or GABAa/c-receptors changed the temporal resolution, when expressed as a linear filter, from a 3rd degree filter with resonance to a low order low-pass filter with a low upper limit frequency. The temporal transfer properties were barely changed by blocking either nicotinic or muscarinic acteylcholine receptors, although ERG-components increased in amplitude to varying degrees. The behavioral and electrophysiological data indicate the important role of GABA for temporal processing but little involvement of the cholinergic system. It is proposed that the interaction of the GABAergic amacrine cell network and bipolar cells determines the gain of the retinal temporal coding in the upper frequency range.