ABSTRACT
Electrical records from ganglion cells in the central nervous system and from intact muscle groups controlling siphon retraction and shell-valve adduction have revealed qualitative similarities in the response characteristics of two neurone-effector systems following stimulation of tactile afferents.
Simultaneous electrical records from neurones and muscle indicate that Type I ganglion cells are motoneurones to the fast portion of the posterior adductor muscle.
The waveform and polarity of the post-synaptic responses of Type 1 cells depend critically upon the intensity of stimulation over intact sensory pathways. High-intensity input transiently excites the fast portion of the adductor; low-intensity input inhibits the adductor motoneurones. The input organization of Type I neurones therefore permits discrimination of stimulus magnitude and thus controls the characteristics of the response programme."