Electromagnetic field exposure affects the calling song, phonotaxis, and level of biogenic amines in crickets

2023 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 432

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2023

Study typeanimal

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Electromagnetic field exposure affects the calling song, phonotaxis, and level of biogenic amines in crickets Wyszkowska J, Kobak J, Aonuma H. Electromagnetic field exposure affects the calling song, phonotaxis, and level of biogenic amines in crickets. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2023 Jul 28. doi: 10.1007/s11356-023-28981-0. Abstract The electromagnetic field (EMF) is ubiquitous in the environment, constituting a well-known but poorly understood stressor. Few studies have been conducted on insect responses to EMF, although they are an excellent experimental model and are of great ecological importance. In our work, we tested the effects of EMF (50 Hz, 7 mT) on the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus: the male calling song pattern, female mate choice, and levels of biogenic amines in the brain. Exposure of males to EMF increased the number and shortened the period of chips in their calling song (by 2.7% and 5% relative to the control song, respectively), but not the sound frequency. Aged (3-week-old) females were attracted to both natural and EMF-modified male signals, whereas young (1- week-old, virgin) females responded only to the modified signal, suggesting its higher attractance. Stress response of males to EMF may be responsible for the change in the calling song, as suggested by the changes in the amine levels in their brains: an increase in dopamine (by 50% relative to the control value), tyramine (65%), and serotonin (25%) concentration and a decrease in octopamine level (by 25%). These findings indicate that G. bimaculatus responds to EMF, like stressful conditions, which may change the condition and fitness of exposed individuals, disrupt mate selection, and, in consequence, affect the species' existence. Open access paper: link.springer.com

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 directionharm

PopulationCrickets (Gryllus bimaculatus); male and female behavioral responses; male brain biogenic amines

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF · 0.05 MHz

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Exposure to EMF (50 Hz, 7 mT) altered male calling song by increasing the number of chips and shortening chip period, without changing sound frequency. Female responses differed by age: aged females were attracted to both natural and EMF-modified signals, while young virgin females responded only to the modified signal. In exposed males, dopamine, tyramine, and serotonin levels increased and octopamine decreased relative to controls.

Outcomes measured

Male calling song pattern (chips number, chip period, sound frequency)
Female phonotaxis / mate choice response to natural vs EMF-modified male signals
Brain biogenic amine levels (dopamine, tyramine, serotonin, octopamine)

Limitations

Sample size not reported in abstract
Exposure duration not reported in abstract
Study conducted in an insect model; generalizability to other species not addressed in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 0.05,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus); male and female behavioral responses; male brain biogenic amines",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Male calling song pattern (chips number, chip period, sound frequency)",
    "Female phonotaxis / mate choice response to natural vs EMF-modified male signals",
    "Brain biogenic amine levels (dopamine, tyramine, serotonin, octopamine)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Exposure to EMF (50 Hz, 7 mT) altered male calling song by increasing the number of chips and shortening chip period, without changing sound frequency. Female responses differed by age: aged females were attracted to both natural and EMF-modified signals, while young virgin females responded only to the modified signal. In exposed males, dopamine, tyramine, and serotonin levels increased and octopamine decreased relative to controls.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Exposure duration not reported in abstract",
    "Study conducted in an insect model; generalizability to other species not addressed in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "electromagnetic field",
    "ELF",
    "50 Hz",
    "7 mT",
    "Gryllus bimaculatus",
    "cricket",
    "calling song",
    "phonotaxis",
    "mate choice",
    "biogenic amines",
    "dopamine",
    "serotonin",
    "tyramine",
    "octopamine",
    "stress response"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.2,
      "reason": "Uses a 50 Hz field typical of power-frequency environments, though the study is in insects and not explicitly occupational."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1007/s11356-023-28981-0
PubMed: Not supplied

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