Effect of Electroconvulsive Shocks on Nest Building in the Male Albino Rat. ∗

Summary

Twelve adult male albino rats were shocked once a day for 9 days after which they were placed in a relatively cold attic room and supplied with nest building materials. Nine, not shocked but otherwise treated like the others, served as controls. In the early post shock period the convulsed animals made no attempt at nest building whereas their controls built excellent nests. There was gradual recovery so that by the tenth day post shock, the convulsed animals built nests equal to those of the control rats.