EFFECT OF AN ELECTROCONVULSIVE SHOCK ON RETENTION OF A SPATIAL DISCRIMINATION OR ITS REVERSAL

A total of 300 rats was used to study ECS effects in two learning situations, their reversals, short and long intervals between original learning and reversal, and with and without overtraining of the original learning. ECS only impaired the retention of original learning in the albino rats. The impairment in retention of reversal learning was best expressed when overtraining was given on the original learning and the learning-reversal interval was lengthened from 1-24 hr. Percentage of correct choices provided a more sensitive measure of ECS effects than latencies or trials to criterion. Several implications of these findings are suggested. © 1968.