The permanence of effect of a series of electroconvulsive seizures on openfield behavior.

Abstract

A series of 15 ECS administered at the rate of one per day produced significant changes in the open-field behavior of male albino rats as measured 30, 65 and 100 days after initiation of the series of ECS. These changes consisted of a decrease in activity and an increase in "emotional behavior." The changes appeared at the first post-ECS testing and persisted throughout the experiment. These results are compared with those of other experimenters. Activity wheel running did not discriminate between the experimental and control groups. This latter finding is discussed in relationship to a previous study in which a significant increase in activity-wheel running on the part of the experimental animals was found.