The effect of posttrial ECS and footshock on the acquisition of a nonshock passive-avoidance response

Abstract

Experiment 1, with a 2 by 2 factorial design of training/no training, ECS/no ECS, investigated the effect of ECS on the acquisition of a one-trial nonshock passive avoidance response. Results indicated passive-avoidance learning in trained Ss and that ECS produced nearly complete retrograde amnesia (RA) for the response. Experiment 2, using the same design and procedure, investigated the effect of posttraining footshock (FS) on the acquisition of the passive-avoidance response. Results indicated passive-avoidance behavior for groups receiving training and no FS, training and FS, and no training and FS. There was no evidence of RA produced by FS.