An effect of electroconvulsive shock on a conditioned avoidance response.

Recovery from large medial thalamic lesions as a result of electroconvulsive therapy.

“…This increase is significant (P<0'01; Wilcoxon test). The behaviour was essentially normal following medial thalamic damage, in agreement with previous findings (Cardo, 1961;Vanderwolf, 1962;Thompson, 1963;Delacour et al, 1966 Experiments by Carson (1957) and Heistad (1955) have shown that retention of learned avoidance behaviour in normal rats is impaired by a series of convulsions. Since the experiment just described demonstrated an improvement in avoidance performance following a series of convulsions in rats with medial thalamic damage, it seemed worthwhile to repeat the entire experiment with normal animals in order to confirm the earlier work.…”

“…Thus. escape Experiments by Carson (1957) and Heistad (1955) have shown that retention of learned avoidance behaviour in normal rats is impaired by a series of convulsions. Since the experiment just described demonstrated an improvement in avoidance performance following a series of convulsions in rats with medial thalamic damage, it seemed worthwhile to repeat the entire experiment with normal animals in order to confirm the earlier work.…”

Neural consolidation and electroconvulsive shock.

“…This rinding has been duplicated by a host of investigators using quite a large number of experimental situations, and there seems to be absolutely no question about its reality. Heistad (1955), for example, trained animals to tilt a box which was balanced on a fulcrum. Tilting the box allowed water to flow into a trough and the thirsty animals could then drink.…”

“…There are several other experiments which are instructive concerning the selective effect of ECS ; in these studies the instrumental response is also attenuated by ECS. Heistad (1955)trained animals to move from one compartment to another in a circular maze when a CS was presented. If they moved soon enough after the appearance of the CS, they avoided a shock delivered through the grid floor.…”

The effect of electroconvulsive shock on a socially motivated instrumental response

“…Numerous studies have indicated that electroconvulsive shock (ECS) has a strong attenuating effect on a conditioned emotional response while leaving the conditioned instrumental response relatively intact (Heistad, 1955;Hunt & Brady, 1951; Poschel, 1957;and Williams, 1961). In the study by Poschel (1957) an approach-avoidance conflict was established to the goal end of a runway.…”