Power frequency EMF exposure influences network connection pattern of local field potentials during working memory

2018 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 1933

Rats exposed to 2 mT power-frequency EMF for 48 days required more training to reach the working-memory task criterion (>80% correct) than controls. Both 24-day and 48-day exposed groups showed significantly lower LFP causal network connection strength and gl…

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2018

Study typeanimal

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Power frequency EMF exposure influences network connection pattern of local field potentials during working memory [Article in Chinese] Li S, Wen X, Sang H, Xu G. [Long term power frequency electromagnetic fields exposure influences the causal network connection pattern of local field potentials during working memory]. Sheng Wu Yi Xue Gong Cheng Xue Za Zhi. 2018 Jun 1;35(6):829-836. doi: 10.7507/1001-5515.201806004. Abstract The possible influence of electromagnetic field (EMF) on the function of neural systems has been widely concerned. In this article, we intend to investigate the effects of long term power frequency EMF exposure on brain cognitive functions and it's mechanism. The Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: the rats in EMF Ⅰ group were placed in the 2 mT power frequency EMF for 24 days. The rats in EMF Ⅱ group were placed in the 2 mT power frequency EMF for 48 days. The rats in control group were not exposed to the EMF. Then, the 16 channel local field potentials (LFPs) were recorded from rats' prefrontal cortex (PFC) in each group during the working memory (WM) tasks. The causal networks of LFPs were also established by applying the directed transfer function (DTF). Based on that, the differences of behavior and the LFPs network connection patterns between different groups were compared in order to investigate the influence of long term power frequency EMF exposure on working memory. The results showed the rats in the EMF Ⅱ group needed more training to reach the task correction criterion (over 80%). Moreover, the causal network connection strength and the global efficiency of the rats in EMF Ⅰ and EMF Ⅱ groups were significantly lower than the corresponding values of the control group. Meanwhile, significant differences of causal density values were found between EMF Ⅱ group and the other two groups. These results indicate that long term exposure to 2 mT power frequency EMF will reduce the connection strength and the information transfer efficiency of the LFPs causal network in the PFC, as well as the behavior performance of the rats. These results may explain the effect of EMF exposure on working memory from the view of neural network connectivity and provide a support for further studies on the mechanism of the effect of EMF on cognition ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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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

PopulationSprague-Dawley rats

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF · 2 mT power frequency EMF for 24 days (EMF I) or 48 days (EMF II)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: unknown

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Working memory task performance (training needed to reach >80% correct)
Prefrontal cortex (PFC) local field potentials (LFPs) causal network connection strength (DTF)
Global efficiency of LFP causal network
Causal density of LFP causal network

Limitations

Frequency of the power-frequency EMF not specified in the abstract
Sample size not reported
Journal not provided in metadata; article noted as in Chinese

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "2 mT power frequency EMF for 24 days (EMF I) or 48 days (EMF II)"
  },
  "population": "Sprague-Dawley rats",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Working memory task performance (training needed to reach >80% correct)",
    "Prefrontal cortex (PFC) local field potentials (LFPs) causal network connection strength (DTF)",
    "Global efficiency of LFP causal network",
    "Causal density of LFP causal network"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Rats exposed to 2 mT power-frequency EMF for 48 days required more training to reach the working-memory task criterion (>80% correct) than controls. Both 24-day and 48-day exposed groups showed significantly lower LFP causal network connection strength and global efficiency in PFC versus controls, and causal density differed between the 48-day group and the other groups.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Frequency of the power-frequency EMF not specified in the abstract",
    "Sample size not reported",
    "Journal not provided in metadata; article noted as in Chinese"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "unknown",
  "keywords": [
    "power frequency",
    "ELF EMF",
    "2 mT",
    "long-term exposure",
    "Sprague-Dawley rats",
    "working memory",
    "prefrontal cortex",
    "local field potentials",
    "directed transfer function",
    "causal network",
    "global efficiency",
    "causal density"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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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: 10.7507/1001-5515.201806004
PubMed: Not supplied

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