Central Correlates of Taste Discrimination in Limax maximus

We have identified a group of interneurons which have somata in the cerebral ganglion (CG) and axonal projections to the buccal ganglia (BG). These cerebral to buccal interneurons (CB's) are capable of initiating, maintaining and modulating an in vitro analogue of ingestion. This fictive fedding rhythm, monitored by extracellular electrodes on BG nerves, is reliably elicited by application of food extracts to the chemosensory lip structures. We have examined the responses of CB's in vitro to lip application of a potato extract, which is attractive to intact slugs, and quinidine sulfate (QSO sub 4) solutions which are aversive and produce withdrawal responses as opposed to ingestion.