Brain-implanted conductors amplify radiofrequency fields in rodents: Advantages and risks

Bioelectromagnetics · 2023 · Mixed · Low evidence

← Research stream

MixedLow evidencePaper 373

Study snapshot

PublicationBioelectromagnetics · 2023

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Brain-implanted conductors amplify radiofrequency fields in rodents: Advantages and risks Vöröslakos M, Yaghmazadeh O, Alon L, Sodickson DK, Buzsáki G. Brain-implanted conductors amplify radiofrequency fields in rodents: Advantages and risks. Bioelectromagnetics. 2023 Oct 24. doi: 10.1002/bem.22489. Abstract Over the past few decades, daily exposure to radiofrequency (RF) fields has been increasing due to the rapid development of wireless and medical imaging technologies. Under extreme circumstances, exposure to very strong RF energy can lead to heating of body tissue, even resulting in tissue injury. The presence of implanted devices, moreover, can amplify RF effects on surrounding tissue. Therefore, it is important to understand the interactions of RF fields with tissue in the presence of implants, in order to establish appropriate wireless safety protocols, and also to extend the benefits of medical imaging to increasing numbers of people with implanted medical devices. This study explored the neurological effects of RF exposure in rodents implanted with neuronal recording electrodes. We exposed freely moving and anesthetized rats and mice to 950 MHz RF energy while monitoring their brain activity, temperature, and behavior. We found that RF exposure could induce fast onset firing of single neurons without heat injury. In addition, brain implants enhanced the effect of RF stimulation resulting in reversible behavioral changes. Using an optical temperature measurement system, we found greater than tenfold increase in brain temperature in the vicinity of the implant. On the one hand, our results underline the importance of careful safety assessment for brain-implanted devices, but on the other hand, we also show that metal implants may be used for neurostimulation if brain temperature can be kept within safe limits. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeanimal

Effect directionmixed

PopulationRats and mice (freely moving and anesthetized) implanted with neuronal recording electrodes

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 950 MHz

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Freely moving and anesthetized rats and mice with implanted neuronal recording electrodes were exposed to 950 MHz RF while monitoring brain activity, temperature, and behavior. RF exposure induced fast-onset firing of single neurons without heat injury, and implants enhanced RF effects with reversible behavioral changes; optical temperature measurements indicated >10-fold higher brain temperature in the vicinity of the implant.

Outcomes measured

Brain activity (single-neuron firing)
Brain temperature near implant
Behavioral changes
Heat injury/tissue heating

Limitations

Sample size not reported in abstract
Exposure duration and dosimetry (e.g., SAR, field strength) not reported in abstract
Details of implant materials/geometry and exposure setup not fully described in abstract
Findings are from rodents and may not generalize to humans

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "other",
    "frequency_mhz": 950,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Rats and mice (freely moving and anesthetized) implanted with neuronal recording electrodes",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Brain activity (single-neuron firing)",
    "Brain temperature near implant",
    "Behavioral changes",
    "Heat injury/tissue heating"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Freely moving and anesthetized rats and mice with implanted neuronal recording electrodes were exposed to 950 MHz RF while monitoring brain activity, temperature, and behavior. RF exposure induced fast-onset firing of single neurons without heat injury, and implants enhanced RF effects with reversible behavioral changes; optical temperature measurements indicated >10-fold higher brain temperature in the vicinity of the implant.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Exposure duration and dosimetry (e.g., SAR, field strength) not reported in abstract",
    "Details of implant materials/geometry and exposure setup not fully described in abstract",
    "Findings are from rodents and may not generalize to humans"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radiofrequency",
    "950 MHz",
    "rodents",
    "rats",
    "mice",
    "brain implants",
    "neuronal recording electrodes",
    "neurostimulation",
    "heating",
    "temperature",
    "behavior",
    "single-neuron firing"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.2,
      "reason": "Focuses on RF interactions with implanted devices and safety protocols, though not explicitly occupational."
    }
  ]
}

AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1002/bem.22489
PubMed: 37876116

Read the original paper →

Related papers

← Back to the Research Library