Extracellular activity of single neurons in the pars reticulata of the Substantia Nigra (SNpr) was recorded in cats during drinking. Two groups of cells were distinguished: I. Somatosensory cells which responded by a short decrease in firing rate to the arrival of water against the upper lip. We suggest that these stimulus-related responses reflect a complex process linked to preparation of buccolingual movements. II. Action-related cells which were de-activated at the beginning or during the entire drinking period but without modulation in relation to the individual movements of jaws and tongue. We suggest that de-activation of these cells during drinking operates as a gating mechanism which allows implementation of complex motor sequences by cortical and/or subcortical structures.