The Effects of Short-term Social and Sensory Isolation upon Behavior, EEG and Averaged Evoked Potentials in Puppies

Fox, M. W. The effects of short-term social and sensory isolation upon behavior, EEG and averaged evoked potentials in puppies. PHYSIOL. BEHAV. 2 (2) 145-151, 1967,--Pups were reared in partial social and sensory isolation for 1 week between the fourth and fifth weeks of age. Emergence from isolation is characterized by intense behavioral arousal, abnormally short latencies of visual evoked potentials (EP) and marked desynchronization of the EEG with paroxysmal or continuous rhythmic 11-16 c/sec activity. Recovery is generally rapid and by 7 days after emergence from isolation, behavior and EEG activity are apparently normal. These findings are discussed in the light of earlier studies on the behavioral and neurophysiological effects of isolation rearing, and the isolation syndrome described in relation to autistic behavior in the human infant.