Lateral inhibition

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Lateral Inhibition

Lateral inhibition is a process in neurobiology where an excited neuron reduces the activity of its neighbors. This mechanism enhances the contrast in sensory input, making the perception of edges and boundaries more distinct. Lateral inhibition is a fundamental feature of the nervous system and plays a crucial role in various sensory systems, including the visual system, auditory system, and somatosensory system.

Mechanism

Lateral inhibition occurs when an excited neuron releases inhibitory neurotransmitters to adjacent neurons. This inhibition prevents the neighboring neurons from firing action potentials, thereby sharpening the spatial contrast of the sensory input. The process is mediated by interneurons, which are responsible for transmitting inhibitory signals.

Visual System

In the visual system, lateral inhibition is essential for edge detection and contrast enhancement. The retina contains photoreceptors that respond to light and send signals to bipolar cells. These bipolar cells, in turn, connect to ganglion cells. Horizontal cells and amacrine cells in the retina mediate lateral inhibition by connecting photoreceptors and bipolar cells, respectively. This interaction helps in distinguishing edges and fine details in the visual field.

Auditory System

In the auditory system, lateral inhibition helps in the localization of sound and the discrimination of different sound frequencies. The cochlea contains hair cells that respond to specific frequencies of sound. Lateral inhibition in the cochlea enhances the contrast between different frequencies, allowing for more precise auditory perception.

Somatosensory System

In the somatosensory system, lateral inhibition enhances the perception of touch and spatial resolution. Mechanoreceptors in the skin respond to tactile stimuli and send signals to the central nervous system. Lateral inhibition in the somatosensory pathways helps in distinguishing fine details of touch, such as texture and shape.

Related Pages

• Neuron
• Neurotransmitter
• Interneuron
• Visual system
• Auditory system
• Somatosensory system
• Retina
• Photoreceptor
• Bipolar cell
• Ganglion cell
• Horizontal cell
• Amacrine cell
• Cochlea
• Mechanoreceptor