The effects of a luminance-unbalanced pattern onset-offset mode of stimulation on electroretinograms and visual evoked cortical potentials were investigated. With the use of originally devised software, only offset luminance was varied from 14.7 to 62.3 cd/m2. A vertical grating pattern (1.5 c/deg, 38.8 cd/m2 mean luminance, 0.95 contrast) was presented for 260 ms and was absent for 260 ms to normal subjects. With an increase in the luminance level of the offset pattern from the lowest level, the amplitude of the onset electroretinogram increased by degrees, while that of the offset electroretinogram gradually decreased. Conversely, onset visual evoked cortical potential responses decreased gradually, and offset visual evoked cortical potentials increased correspondingly. Furthermore, the spatial tuning of the onset pattern electroretinogram was already ambiguous, even when there was only a 4-cd/m2 difference between onset and offset pattern luminances. Thus, luminance control is indispensable for pattern onset-offset stimulation.