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The effect of Wi-Fi electromagnetic waves on neuronal response properties in rat barrel cortex

2019 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 1643

After 1 h exposure to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi signals, Wi-Fi radiation decreased the condition test ratio (CTR) for ON responses. Neuronal spontaneous activity and ON and OFF response magnitudes were reported as not significantly changed following exposure.

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2019
Study typeanimal
Reported directionMixed
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

The effect of Wi-Fi electromagnetic waves on neuronal response properties in rat barrel cortex Sistani S, Fatemi I, Shafeie SA, Kaeidi A, Azin M, Shamsizadeh A. The effect of Wi-Fi electromagnetic waves on neuronal response properties in rat barrel cortex. Somatosens Mot Res. 2019 Nov 13:1-6. doi: 10.1080/08990220.2019.1689116. Abstract There is a growing number of studies on the possible biological effects of Wi-Fi radiations on nervous system. In this study we investigated the effect of Wi-Fi exposure on single neuron responses to natural stimuli by using whisker to barrel pathway. This study was done on 29 male Wistar rats. Neuronal spontaneous activity and ON and OFF responses to displacement of principal whisker (PW), adjacent whisker (AW) and combination of PW- AW stimulation (as natural stimuli) were recorded in barrel cortex of anaesthetised rats. A D-link Wi-Fi device was used for 1 h exposure to 2.4 GHz microwaves in data mode (18.2 dBm and 44% for power and duty cycle). A condition test ratio (CTR) was calculated for assessing neuronal integrative properties. Wi-Fi radiations decreased CTR for ON responses. However, neuronal spontaneous activity and ON and OFF responses were not significantly changed following exposure to Wi-Fi signals. The results of this study demonstrated that exposure to Wi-Fi radiation could modulate integrative responses to natural stimuli in barrel cortex. 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
Population29 male Wistar rats (anaesthetised)
Sample size29
Exposuremicrowave · 2400 MHz · 1 h
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

After 1 h exposure to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi signals, Wi-Fi radiation decreased the condition test ratio (CTR) for ON responses. Neuronal spontaneous activity and ON and OFF response magnitudes were reported as not significantly changed following exposure.

Outcomes measured

  • Neuronal spontaneous activity in barrel cortex
  • ON responses to principal whisker (PW), adjacent whisker (AW), and combined PW-AW stimulation
  • OFF responses to PW, AW, and combined PW-AW stimulation
  • Condition test ratio (CTR) for neuronal integrative properties (ON responses)

Limitations

  • No SAR or dosimetry beyond device power/duty cycle reported in abstract
  • Short exposure duration (1 h)
  • Animal study (male Wistar rats; anaesthetised), limiting generalizability
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "microwave",
    "source": "wi-fi",
    "frequency_mhz": 2400,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "1 h"
  },
  "population": "29 male Wistar rats (anaesthetised)",
  "sample_size": 29,
  "outcomes": [
    "Neuronal spontaneous activity in barrel cortex",
    "ON responses to principal whisker (PW), adjacent whisker (AW), and combined PW-AW stimulation",
    "OFF responses to PW, AW, and combined PW-AW stimulation",
    "Condition test ratio (CTR) for neuronal integrative properties (ON responses)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "After 1 h exposure to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi signals, Wi-Fi radiation decreased the condition test ratio (CTR) for ON responses. Neuronal spontaneous activity and ON and OFF response magnitudes were reported as not significantly changed following exposure.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "No SAR or dosimetry beyond device power/duty cycle reported in abstract",
    "Short exposure duration (1 h)",
    "Animal study (male Wistar rats; anaesthetised), limiting generalizability"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "Wi-Fi",
    "2.4 GHz",
    "microwaves",
    "rat",
    "Wistar",
    "barrel cortex",
    "whisker-barrel pathway",
    "single neuron recording",
    "neuronal response",
    "integrative properties",
    "CTR"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "school-wi-fi",
      "weight": 0.6,
      "reason": "Study evaluates biological effects of Wi‑Fi (2.4 GHz) exposure."
    }
  ]
}
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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: 10.1080/08990220.2019.1689116
PubMed: Not supplied

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