[Functional role of the processes of an identified edible snail neuron].

Electrophysiological and morphological studies of an identified giant neurone of the snail Helix pomatia showed that the neurone PPa4 possesses a large receptive field and axones entering peripheric nerves. It is suggested that this neurone is an output integrative link of the mollusc's CNS. Through various types of spike activity PPa4 may exert a tonic or a phasic effect on neurones of the peripheric nervous system or a direct influence on effector organs of the mantle and pneumostome.