Reactivation of recent or remote memory before electroconvulsive therapy does not produce retrograde amnesia

Abstract

Tests of recent memory and remote memory were administered to psychiatric patients before and after electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). When learning occurred just prior to ECT, subsequent retention was poorer than when learning occurred several hours before ECT. Retention was not affected when a reminder procedure was given just prior to ECT. The results do not support the hypothesis that the reactivation of previously learned material before convulsive stimulation can cause amnesia. Retrograde amnesia seems to be determined largely by the amount of time between initial learning and treatment with an amnesic agent.