1. The changes in neuromuscular facilitation produced by varying extracellular calcium and magnesium concentrations have been studied at the frog neuromuscular junction using intracellular recording and automatic averaging of responses.2. When [Ca] was elevated three effects were observed: a large increase in transmitter release by the first impulse; a decrease in facilitation at short intervals between impulses; and a prolongation of the time course of the facilitated release. If the release by the first impulse is kept at constant level, by raising both [Ca] and [Mg], facilitation becomes greater at all impulse intervals.3. The results have been discussed in terms of the hypothesis that the action of calcium is responsible for neuromuscular facilitation.