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In this study, we evaluated the force of the cilium on the foot sole of a medium-sized pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis, crawling up in the anaerobic water. It was found that there are 1.3 x 10(9) cilia on the foot sole, their force is 1.47 x 10(-6) W, the force of one cilium is 1.1 x 10(-15) W and the force of single ciliary beat is 1.1 x 10(-16) W.

The activity of neurones of the lateral reticular nucleus (LRN) was recorded in thalamic cats immobilized with Flaxedil during "fictitious scratching", that is during rhythmical activity of motoneurones typical of normal scratching. The LRN neurones exhibited a distinct modulation of their discharge related to the rhythmical activity of motoneurones in spite of the absence of the rhythmical afferent inflow. The pattern of modulation was identical both in normal and in "fictitious" scratching. Therefore, the spino-reticulo-cerebellar path transmits information about the activity of the spinal motor centres.

The activity of reticulo-spinal (RS) neurons was recorded in thalamic and decerebrate cats during actual and "fictition" scratching. Most RS neurons were silent during scratching, but some exhibitied a distinct modulation of their discharge related to the rhythmical activity of motoneurons. They were excited during the flexor phase and inhibited during the extensor phase of the cycle. The pattern of modulation was identical both in actual and in "fictitions" scratching.