directional selectivity
[/daɪˈrekʃənəl sɪˈlektɪvɪti/]
nounpl: directional selectivities
seletividade direcional
1. The property or ability of a sensory system, neuron, or biological structure to respond preferentially to stimuli coming from a particular direction while being less responsive to stimuli from other directions
The directional selectivity of retinal ganglion cells allows them to detect motion in specific directions.
A seletividade direcional das células ganglionares da retina permite que elas detectem movimento em direções específicas.
2. In neuroscience, the ability of neurons in the visual cortex to respond more strongly to visual stimuli moving in one direction than in the opposite direction
Directional selectivity in the visual cortex is crucial for perceiving motion and tracking moving objects.
A seletividade direcional no córtex visual é crucial para perceber movimento e rastrear objetos em movimento.
3. A feature of sensory receptors or neural circuits that confers sensitivity to directional information in various sensory modalities
Auditory neurons can exhibit directional selectivity for sound localization.
Os neurônios auditivos podem apresentar seletividade direcional para localização de som.
This is a specialized scientific and neurobiological term primarily used in academic, research, and medical contexts in both the United States and Brazil. It is particularly important in visual neuroscience, studying how the brain processes motion and direction. The term is virtually identical in usage across English-speaking and Portuguese-speaking scientific communities, reflecting the international nature of neuroscience research.
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