center-surround receptive field
Circular receptive field organization with opposite responses in center and surrounding regions.
Full Definition
A center-surround receptive field is a common organizational pattern in sensory systems where a neuron responds in opposite ways to stimuli presented in the center versus the surround of its receptive field. In the visual system, for example, an on-center cell increases firing to light in the center but decreases firing to light in the surround. This organization enhances edge detection and contrast sensitivity by making neurons most responsive to spatial discontinuities in the stimulus. Center-surround organization is found in retinal ganglion cells, lateral geniculate nucleus neurons, and some cortical cells. Similar principles apply in other sensory modalities, contributing to feature detection and sensory processing efficiency.
Usage
Usage note: Fundamental concept in sensory neuroscience across multiple modalities.
In Context
- "The retinal ganglion cell exhibited a classic center-surround receptive field organization." — Visual system research
- "Center-surround receptive fields contribute to contrast enhancement in early visual processing." — Sensory processing review