lateral inhibition

in perception, a mechanism for detecting contrast in which a sensory neuron is excited by one particular receptor but inhibited by neighboring (lateral) receptors. In vision, for example, lateral inhibition is seen in neurons that respond to light at one position but are inhibited by light at surrounding positions.

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Psychology term of the day

May 8th 2024

morula

n. an early stage of embryological development, extending from the first cleavage of the zygote until the blastula is formed by further divisions of daughter cells.