Recovery of Memory after Amnesia Induced by Electroconvulsive Shock

Abstract

Electroconvulsive shock given to rats immediately after one-trial avoidance learning produced a significant amnesic effect 24 hours later; this amnesia had largely disappeared in further retention tests 48 and 72 hours after treatment. This result puts in question a basic assumption implicit in most memory consolidation studies that such amnesic effects will be permanent.