Influence of Efferent Fibres on a Receptor

Two types of nerve fibres terminate close to the hair cells of lateral line organs, and have been reported as afferent arid efferent. Evidence for this view has been largely derived from electron microscopy1,2, and by analogy with labyrinthine hair cells3 it has been assumed that efferent fibres may exert an inhibitory influence on the sensory system. Even though afferent and efferent impulse traffic has been recorded from lateralis nerves in the South African clawed toad4, recent work suggests that sensory activity is not influenced by efferent impulses5.