AbstractSingle unit responses were recorded from neurons in the nucleus basalis of the pigeon. Two hundred and twelve basalis cells, from 23 birds, were characterized in terms of modality, receptive area and adaptive properties. Most basalis units (97%) fired spontaneously in bursts of a few spikes separated by one to two seconds of silence. All units were activated by light mechanical stimulation of the beak or buccal cavity. The units adapted rapidly to a maintained stimulus, but fired vigorously when the stimulating probe moved back and forth across the surface of the receptive area. Receptive fields fell into two clearly separable groups with respect to size: small fields, less than 15 mm2, generally clustered near the beak tips, and large fields occupying from one‐third to the entire beak surface. Both unilateral (ipsilateral or contralateral) and bilateral receptive areas were encountered. Nucleus basalis units could be driven electrically by stimulation of the beak surface or the main sensory trigeminal nucleus (PrV). The data suggest that n. basalis cells are particularly responsive to movement of food (grains) within the mouth and that this information is relayed by trigeminal afferents to the PrV, thence to the n. basalis via a partially decussating quinto‐rontal tract. The results are discussed in relation to the role of the n. basalis in the control of feeding behavior in the pig