dictionary help| lateral inhibition | medical dictionary |
A simple form of information processing. The classic example is found in the eye, whereby ganglion cells are stimulated if photoreceptors in a well defined field are illuminated, but their response is inhibited if neighbouring photoreceptors are excited (an on field/off surround cell) or vice versa an off field/on surround cell. The effect of lateral inhibition is to produce edge or boundary sensitive cells and to reduce the amount of information that is sent to higher centres, a form of peripheral processing.
This entry appears with permission from the Dictionary of Cell and Molecular Biology
(11 Mar 2008)
lateral incisor, lateral inferior genicular artery, lateral inguinal fossa < Prev | Next > lateralis, laterality, lateralization
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