Which best describes lateral inhibition in the somatic sensory system? The frequency of action potentials along pathways from the site of a stimulus is increased by lateral inhibition. Lateral inhibition reduces the contrast between the frequency of action potentials generated at the center of a stimulus and the frequency of action potentials in surrounding pathways. The precision of locating a stimulus is enhanced by increasing the frequency of action potentials in nearby, parallel pathways. Stimuli of one particular modality in a region of the body block transmission of action potentials coding for other modalities generated in the same region of the body. The precision of locating a stimulus is increased by inhibiting signaling along nearby, parallel pathways.