ECS disruption of avoidance produced by an air blast and tone

Rats were taught to bar press for food in a Skinner box. The amount of time needed to make 10 bar presses increased significantly after a bar press was accompanied by an air blast and loud tone. This increase did not occur if the air blast and tone were followed 8 sec later by an ECS. The technique is simple and effective, and preserves the previously established effects of ECS on recent memory. Hopefully it will prove useful in situations where the investigator wishes to establish a one-trial passive avoidance without the use of painful shock.