What is the process that leads to a stronger response from cells that detect the edge of a surface than from cells that detect the middle of a surface?

Lateral inhibition.

Explanation:

Lateral inhibition may be defined as the ability of an excited neuron to reduce or decrease the activity of ts side by or neighbor's neuron. The sensory [perception is increased during lateral inhibition.

The stronger response is detected at the surface edge rather than on the cell's middle surface. The excited neurons move in the lateral direction and decreases the activity of the middle or neighbor neurons.

Thus, the answer is lateral inhibition.