Effects of chlorpromazine and electroconvulsive shock on a conditioned emotional response.

Abstract

Retention of a conditioned emotional response (CER) was tested with rats after 14 electroconvulsive shock treatments (ECS), after chlorpromazine and after a combination of both. Control groups were also run. ECS interfered with the retention of the CER and the drug interfered to a lesser extent. The drug led to a partial restoration of the CER which had been virtually eliminated by ECS. The results are discussed in terms of a generalization decrement hypothesis.