| lateral inhibition | A simple form of information processing. The classic example is found in the eye, whereby ganglion cells are stimulated if photoreceptors in a well defined field are illuminated, but their response is inhibited if neighbouring photoreceptors are excited (an on field/off surround cell) or vice versa an off field/on surround cell. The effect of lateral inhibition is to produce edge or boundary sensitive cells and to reduce the amount of information that is sent to higher centres, a form of peripheral processing. (18 Nov 1997) |
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| leukocyte adherence inhibition test | Test for cell-mediated antitumour immunity and related serum blocking factors based on the finding that leukocytes from cancer patients, but not from controls, when mixed in vitro with antigenic extracts of tumours of the same histological type, undergo a diminution in their normal adherence to glass surfaces. Sera from tumour-bearing patients block the lai reaction of their own leukocytes or those of other patients with the same type of tumour. (12 Dec 1998) |