where a weight attached to the mucus simulates the force as it hangs. Simulated attachment reduces responsiveness and spontaneous fictive swimming activity. We have recorded the activity and responses of trigeminal neurons innervating the cement gland. They are spontaneously active and simulating attachment results in a sustained increase in this activity. We propose that hanging from a mucus strand increases firing in cement gland afferents. This leads to tonic GABA inhibition that reduces tadpole activity and responses, and leads to fewer attacks by predators.