Which retinal cell type provides lateral inhibition to information reaching bipolar cells?

Which retinal cell type provides lateral inhibition to information reaching bipolar cells?

• A. Amacrine cells
• B. Muller cells
• C. Horizontal cells
• D. Astrocytes

Answer: (C)

Lateral inhibition in the retina shapes center-surround receptive fields by spreading inhibition among neighboring photoreceptors before signals reach bipolars. Horizontal cells are the key players here; they receive input from photoreceptors and provide inhibitory feedback to neighboring photoreceptors, which reduces the input those neighbors transmit to their connected bipolar cells. This creates the antagonistic surround that sharpens contrast as signals flow into the bipolar cells. Amacrine cells influence processing later in the inner retina, affecting bipolar and ganglion cell activity, but the primary inhibition that modulates what bipolar cells receive comes from horizontal cells. Muller and astrocyte glial cells support retinal neurons rather than mediating this inhibitory circuitry.

Lateral inhibition in the retina shapes center-surround receptive fields by spreading inhibition among neighboring photoreceptors before signals reach bipolars. Horizontal cells are the key players here; they receive input from photoreceptors and provide inhibitory feedback to neighboring photoreceptors, which reduces the input those neighbors transmit to their connected bipolar cells. This creates the antagonistic surround that sharpens contrast as signals flow into the bipolar cells. Amacrine cells influence processing later in the inner retina, affecting bipolar and ganglion cell activity, but the primary inhibition that modulates what bipolar cells receive comes from horizontal cells. Muller and astrocyte glial cells support retinal neurons rather than mediating this inhibitory circuitry.