lateral inhibition

Lateral inhibition is a process in our nervous system where certain neurons suppress the activity of their neighboring neurons. This helps enhance contrast in sensory perception, making edges and details more distinct. For example, when you see a sharp boundary between light and dark areas, lateral inhibition amplifies this difference, allowing you to perceive the edge clearly. It works like a network of neighbors helping each other highlight what's most important, improving the clarity of sensory signals and enabling more precise interpretation of our environment.