Reexamination of prolonged retrograde amnesia in one-trial learning.

Abstract

The 1st of 4 experiments concerning disruptive effects of electroconvulsive shock (ECS) in 1-trial passive avoidance learning paradigms replicated and confirmed earlier findings in a situation where relatively delayed posttrial ECS interferes with subsequent retention-test performance. While this outcome is correctly predicted by a "prolonged retrograde amnesia (RA)" hypothesis, the results of the remaining experiments cast doubt on this interpretation and suggest, alternatively, that certain passive avoidance impairments may reflect effects of ECS upon the locomotor inhibition component of a conditioned emotional response. The findings are discussed in terms of the hypothesis that ECS-induced interference with memory is limited to production of a "short-term RA".