Model studies of lateral inhibition as a mechanism of detecting motion. I. Analytic consideration of direct inhibition
Lednitskiĭ, D.G.
Biofizika 22(1): 127-132
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0006-3029 PMID: 849492 Document Number: 118636
Physiological studies show that lateral inhibition is involved in movement detection and suggest that an essential role in this process is played by such factors as an initial delay of inhibition, final velocity of propagation and its gradual reduction as the inhibition mediator is disintegrated--"memory" of inhibition. A mathematical model of dynamic lateral inhibition is proposed to check up this suggestion and to determine the role of each of these factors. An analytical investigation of the direct inhibition model confirms the participation of these factors in the separation of the reaction to movement. It is found that the delay of inhibition and the final velocity of its propagation are the factors, which favour movement separation and do not impose restrictions on special characteristics of inhibition providing for the fulfilment of the known functions of stationary lateral inhibition. Restrictions appear in the case when movement separation is determined by the delay and "memory" of inhibition.