eye_upper_slim has soma location has soma location interneuron retina horizontal cell Retina horizontal cells are a specialized type of neuron found in the inner nuclear layer of the retina. They play a crucial role in the visual system by integrating and regulating the input from multiple photoreceptor cells, which sense and respond to light. Retina horizontal cells are so named due to their characteristic flat horizontal orientation, with their dendrites and axons coursing laterally in a plane parallel to the retinal surface. Retina horizontal cells are synaptically connected with photoreceptor cells (i.e., cones and rods) and bipolar cells. Their primary function is to facilitate the process of lateral inhibition, where an excited neuron reduces the activity of its neighbors. This capability is central to the phenomenon of "contrast enhancement" in visual perception, where the borders between light and dark areas are accentuated to better resolve images. Retina horizontal cells receive inputs from these neighboring photoreceptor cells and transmit their inhibitory output to not only photoreceptor cells but also bipolar cells, fine-tuning the responsiveness to changes in light intensity and differences in wavelengths. Moreover, retina horizontal cells play a substantial role in adaptation of retinal response to different light levels. In bright light conditions, they aid the reduction of the overall response to light stimuli, thus aiding in the prevention of photoreceptor saturation. These neurons are adept at adjusting the gain and thus the dynamic range of photoreceptors supporting the vision process under variable lighting conditions - from dim moonlight to bright sunshine. Therefore, retina horizontal cells contribute considerably to the adaptability, sharpness, and detail perception of our visual system. (This extended description was generated by ChatGPT and reviewed by the CellGuide team, who added references, and by the CL editors, who approved it for inclusion in CL. It may contain information that applies only to some subtypes and species, and so should not be considered definitional.) horizontal cell A neuron that laterally connects other neurons in the inner nuclear layer of the retina. HCs https://cellxgene.cziscience.com/cellguide/CL_0000745 ZFA:0009315 HC BTO:0004120 Homo sapiens retinal neural layer