Effect of Non-lesion Electrostimulation on Sensorimotor and Cognimotor Activities in Wister Rats

Abstract

Over the years, security operatives at most times use Taser (electric gun) to incapacitate suspects during crime investigation and this action discharges doses of electrical charges to the brain. Non-lesion electrostimulation also function by like taser during treatments of certain neurological disorders as catatonia, schizophrenia, depression, major depressive disorders, delirium symptoms arising from Parkinson disease etc. However, effect of these charges on spatial memories, plasticity of learnings, motor functions, stress and peroxidation of lipids had not been medically elucidated. On this note this study therefore investigated the effect of non-lesion electrostimulation on sensorimotor and cognimotor activities. 25 Rats of Wistar strains were utilized and grouped into 5 at 5 rats per group. Group 1 being the control and other groups were fed with water and feeds all through the study. Group 2 further received 5mA ECT + 2 mg Scopolamine i.p, Group 3 (3mA ECT), Group 4 (5mA ECT), and Group 5 was (5mA ECT + 0.3 mg Adenosine i.p) for a period of 3 weeks and all made to undergo Sensorimotor and Cognimotor tests. Result from the study showed that high dose (5mA ECT), 2 mg Scopolamine and 0.3 mg adenosine all significantly (ρ < 0.05) impaired spatial learning, memory and motor coordination whereas low dose (3mA ECT) did not. However, chronic administration of low dose ECT was noted with retrograde amnesia, poor motor skills, memory attenuation etc. This study therefore concluded that non-lesion electrostimulation (ECT) is a stressor which significantly impaired brain sensorimotor and cognimotor skills in addition to alteration of neuro-electrochemistry.