lateral inhibition (redirected from Surround inhibition)

inhibition, lateral

Action of one neuron (e.g. in the retina) on the neighbouring neuron, the effect of which is to depress or prevent activity in the latter. This mechanism accounts for the increased contrast perception observed at the border of a black and white pattern. In the retina this is produced by the lateral connections of the amacrine and horizontal cells that interconnect the various retinal cells. Syn. lateral antagonism. See receptive field; Hering-Hermann grid; Mach's bands.