The inhibition of convulsive seizures in the white rat by the use of electric shock.

Abstract

15 susceptible animals were placed in 3 groups of 6, 5, and 4 animals, respectively. Group I was stimulated with sound (compressed-air hiss) and electrical shock simultaneously; Group II with shock alone, and Group III with sound alone. Group I showed seizures in only 10% of exposures, and this resistance to seizures carried over to a later test situation with sound alone. Group II manifested no seizures with shock stimulation alone, and only one seizure occurred when later tested with sound alone. Group III had 35 seizures out of 40 exposures. "These findings are interpreted as evidence against the audiogenic theory. An attempt is made to explain the results in terms of conflict theory.".