Effects of inescapable shock upon subsequent escape and avoidance responding
J. Bruce Overmier and Martin Seligman report three experiments on 88 dogs. Dogs given inescapable shock in a first session were slower to escape, and failed more often, in shuttle-box escape-avoidance training about a day later. A higher shock intensity during training did not remove the interference, and dogs paralysed with curare during the first session showed it too. Dogs tested 48 hours or more after the shocks did not differ from dogs that had never been shocked, and the authors concluded that the effect dissipates rapidly.
J. Bruce Overmier and Martin Seligman report three experiments on 88 dogs. Dogs given inescapable shock in a first session were slower to escape, and failed more often, in shuttle-box escape-avoidance training about a day later. A higher shock intensity during training did not remove the interference, and dogs paralysed with curare during the first session showed it too. Dogs tested 48 hours or more after the shocks did not differ from dogs that had never been shocked, and the authors concluded that the effect dissipates rapidly.
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Overmier, J. B., & Seligman, M. E. P. (1967). Effects of inescapable shock upon subsequent escape and avoidance responding. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 63(1), 28-33. doi:10.1037/h0024166