A FEW ELECTROCONVULSIVE SHOCKS PRODUCE MORE RELIABLE EFFECTS OF FIRING RATE IN LATERAL SEPTAL NEURONS THAN REPETITIVE TREATMENT IN THE RAT

Electroconvulsive shock is a common treatment used in depression, espe cially in cases in which suicide constitutes a risk. The recommendatio n for its use varies from one place to another, but there is an empiri cal agreement to avoid daily treatment or several treatments on the sa me day. The present study explored the actions of electroconvulsive sh ock in lateral septal firing rate in rats. The first or second once-a- day electroconvulsive shock produced a maximal increase in firing rate ; however, effects vanished as treatment was repeated. Three consecuti ve electroconvulsive shocks on the same day also produced fewer change s in firing rate than once-a-day treatment. These results are likely t o be related to clinical recommendations to avoid serial-repetitive tr eatment, and suggest that some resting time is required in treatment t o achieve long-lasting changes in neuronal activity.