Effects of electroconvulsive shock on open-field behavior and spontaneous alternation in rats

Abstract

One hundred and twelve male Long–Evans hooded rats were used in a series of three experiments which evaluated the effects of a single electroconvulsive shock alone on open-field behavior and spontaneous alternation. Contrary to several reports suggesting that a single electroconvulsive shock is aversive, decreased open-field activity and other behavioral changes were not observed under either high or low levels of testing illumination. However, spontaneous alternation in the T maze was reduced to random levels for 4 days after electroconvulsive shock. An attempt was made to dissociate the disruptive effect of electroconvulsive shock on spontaneous alternation into stimulus and response components by using a plus-type maze and a single alternation test. It was found that both electroconvulsive shock-treated rats and controls alternated at random levels in all conditions. The results were evaluated in the context of previous electroconvulsive shock studies and compared to the effects of hippocampal lesions.