The effect of ECS on one-trial avoidance learning.

In a recent article, Coons and Miller (1960) raise the question as to whether previous studies which have purported to show that ECS induces a retrograde amnesia can be accounted for by ECS-induced fear of the goal. In the present study 5s were given a single ECS after making a response which was punished by shock to the feet. In a similar study, Pearlman, Sharpless, and Jarvik (1959) have shown that memory of the punishment is impaired by immediate anesthetization with ether or pentobarbital. If ECS affects performance by interfering with memory, then the effects of ECS in the present study should be similar to those obtained with ether and pentobarbital (i.e., rats should continue to make a response which was punished and followed by ECS). If, however, ECS affects performance by inducing fear, 5s given an ECS following a response punished by shock should tend not to make the punished response on a subsequent test.