n the thalamus, somatosensory receptive fields have a roughly circular center-surround organization. This means that a stimulus applied to the part of the skin shown as the “center” causes activity in the thalamic neuron to increase above baseline. A stimulus applied to the surrounding part of the skin causes activity in the same thalamic neuron to decrease below baseline. If one were to observe the activity of a different thalamic neuron, it might have a
“center” located in the same part of the skin as the “surround” of the first neuron. The inhibitory surrounds are produced by a pattern of neural connections known as lateral inhibitory connections. Lateral inhibition in the somatosensory system helps sharpen the tactile perception of contrasts
“center” located in the same part of the skin as the “surround” of the first neuron. The inhibitory surrounds are produced by a pattern of neural connections known as lateral inhibitory connections. Lateral inhibition in the somatosensory system helps sharpen the tactile perception of contrasts