Permanence of amnesia after a single posttrial electroconvulsive seizure.

Abstract

Three experiments were performed to evaluate the permanence of the interference with retention produced by posttrial ECS (electroconvulsive seizure). The presence or absence of ECS, administered 30 sec. after training in a 1-trial procedure, was com- bined factorially with the presence or absence of foot shock in training. Twenty mice per treatment combination were tested for retention of the aversively conditioned response over intervals of 1, 7, and 30 days. Nonspecific effects of ECS were ruled out on the basis of direct and indirect evidence. Specific interference with retention, attributable to ECS, persisted undiminished for 30 days and was judged to be relatively permanent.