Pozos, Robert S., Strack, L.E., White, R.K. and Richardson, Alfred W. Electrosleep versus electroconvulsive therapy. In Reynolds, David V. and Sjoberg, Anita E. (Eds), Neuroelectric Research. Charles Thomas: Springfield, 23:221-225, 1971.
This is a report of a series of 5 studies that involved a complex examination of physiologic changes in pharmacologically altered experimental animals (dogs), 20 experimental and 20 controls. The animals were prepared with 0.2 mg/kg reserpine intramuscularly. After 1 hour those given either CES, electroconvulsive stimulation or lithium chloride, developed Parkinson-like symptoms. Dogs given electroconvulsive levels of stimulation while in the Parkinson-like state experienced evoked hypersynchrony persisting for 3 – 7 minutes, while stimulated controls showed a discharge pattern lasting for only 20 – 40 seconds. The evoked hypersynchrony in the electroconvulsively stimulated animals could be returned to the duration of hypersynchrony found in the control dogs by giving them atropine (0.4 mg/kg), L-dopa (2.5 mg/kg), or CES.
The authors conclude: “It is proposed that CES, electroconvulsive stimulation, and lithium salts may share a common mechanism… Based on this study alone, the net effects of CES stimulation and electroconvulsive stimulation seem quite similar.”