Identified neuronal individuals in the buccal ganglia of Helix pomatia.

The buccal ganglia of Helix pomatia are used as model nervous structures in neurophysiological and epileptological studies. Many basic problems concerning membrane physics and the functioning of single neurons and neuronal networks can be easily studied using these ganglia. The model character derives mainly from the relative simplicity of this nervous system and the fact that it contains large, visually identifiable neurons. As in other invertebrate nervous systems, the large neurons have proved to be individuals showing the same functional and structural properties from one animal to another.