center–surround antagonism

a characteristic of the receptive fields of many visual and somatosensory neurons in which stimulation in the center of the receptive field evokes opposite responses to stimulation in the periphery. Thus, some neurons depolarize with center stimulation and hyperpolarize when the same stimulus appears in the surrounding region of the receptive field, whereas other neurons have the opposite pattern of responses. Center–surround antagonism greatly increases the sensitivity of the nervous system to contrast. See also off response; on response; simple cell.

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Psychology term of the day

February 23rd 2025

belief–desire reasoning

the process by which one explains and predicts another’s behavior on the basis of one’s understanding of the other’s desires and beliefs. Belief–desire reasoning is the basis for theory of mind. See also mindblindness.