Cough-related neurons in the nucleus tractus solitarius of decerebrate cats

► Cough-inducible sites were concentrated in the ventrolateral region of the NTS. ► Membrane potentials of the cough-related neurons were recorded from the NTS. ► The first group of neurons may relay the tussigenic afferent signals. ► The second group of neurons may play a gating role for generation of cough reflex. ► Other neurons may constitute the network of cough generation or modulatory circuit.