Electroencephalograph Studies of Changes induced by Electric Shock in Man. II: Supplementary Observations

Summary Based on observations of 30 cases of psychoses, particularly of schizophrenic patients, changes of the electrical pattern in the preconvulsive (latent), convulsive and postconvulsive stadium, in course of the shock therapy and in caws of non‐convulsive response or abortive convulsion arc described. The main result are: 1) Concerning major convulsion, whatever the genesis may be, the mechanism of clectrocnccphalographic changes seem generally to be the same. 2) An intensifying rhythm of the normal alpha‐ waves, which is observable in course of the therapy, may not he manifestation of a standard for improvement of psychic condition, since the pathologic delta‐waves which seemingly result from the cerebral lesion are apt to complicate later from the increased number of treatments. 3) The cases falling into ‘electrodemcntia’ show very significant abnormalities. 4) In cases of Non‐convutsive response, the electrical pattern shows close connection to the state of consciousness which is doubtlessly induced by the stimulation. 5) In cases of the car‐hole application of the shock, the record resembling the electrical pattern by an epileptic equivalent state arc sometimes obtainable, thus suggesting the subcortical origin of, the latter. 6)The shock applied immediately subsequent to a convulsion is able to produce an incomplete one resembling the pattern characteristic to spontaneous abortive seizure but not to a grand mal attack, 7)Electrical changes or epileptifom discharges which are directly accountable to the applied shack reasonably suffice in explaining the phenonicna of facilitation and extinction.