Studies of abnormal behavior in the rat. IX. Factors which influence the occurrence of seizures during auditory stimulation.

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Abstract
All rats are not susceptible (in the sense that seizures follow exposure) to the same kinds of auditory stimuli, and for every susceptible animal a stimulus may be found which will not elicit seizures, although it is effective for other animals. Exposure for from 1.5 to 8 min. to an "ineffective" stimulus decreased frequency of seizures in response to an "effective" stimulus presented for 2 min. immediately following the ineffective stimulus. This technique was employed to increase the number of exposures to an effective stimulus while keeping seizure frequencies low, and under these conditions, the adaptation previously noted (decreased frequency of seizures) occurred, indicating that "the seizures are not essential for producing a reduction in susceptibility in seizures occurring in auditory situations." When animals were exposed to effective stimuli following forced swimming in water at from 24[degree] to 32[degree] for from 2 to 45 min., susceptibility seems to be reduced. Apparently the reduced body temp. and fatigue reduced the available energy, and this physiol. condition was responsible for the temporary disappearance of the abnormal reaction. This interpretation implies that the basis of such seizures is the breaking through of accumulated strains. Periodic electric shock during exposure to effective stimulus had no effect upon susceptibility. With some animals to whom key-jingling was an ineffective stimulus, this stimulus was made effective by confining the animal in a small box during exposure to the stimulus. This effect cannot be the result of the formation of standing high-frequency waves, "and it is believed .... that restraint of behavior is an important contributing factor.".