Effect of high SARs produced by cell phone like radiofrequency fields on mollusk single neuron.

Electromagnetic biology and medicine · 2013 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 4501

Study snapshot

PublicationElectromagnetic biology and medicine · 2013

Study typeanimal

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

During exposure to the cell phone electromagnetic field (EMF), some neurons in the brain at areas of peak specific absorption rate (SAR) absorb more electromagnetic energy than is permitted by existing guidelines. The goal of the present work was to investigate the influence of cell phone-like EMF signal on excitability and memory processes in single neurons. A Transverse Electromagnetic Cell (TEM Cell) was used to expose single neurons of mollusk to the EMF. Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) method was used for modeling the TEM Cell and the EMF interactions with living nerve ganglion and neurons. Neuron electrophysiology was investigated using standard microelectrode technique. SAR deposited into the single neuron was calculated to be 8.2 W/kg with a temperature increment of 1.21°C. After acute exposure, the threshold of firing of action potentials (AP) was significantly decreased (p ≈ 0.001). Time of habituation to stimulation with the intracellular current injection was increased (p ≈ 0.003). These results indicate that acute exposure to EMF at high SARs impairs the ability of neurons to store information.

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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

PopulationSingle neurons of mollusk (living nerve ganglion/neurons)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 8.2 W/kg · acute

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Single mollusk neurons were exposed in a TEM cell to a cell phone-like RF EMF; SAR in the neuron was calculated as 8.2 W/kg with a 1.21°C temperature increase. After acute exposure, the action potential firing threshold significantly decreased (p≈0.001) and habituation time to intracellular current stimulation increased (p≈0.003). The authors interpret these changes as impaired ability of neurons to store information under high-SAR acute exposure.

Outcomes measured

Neuron excitability (threshold of firing of action potentials)
Habituation time to stimulation (intracellular current injection)
Memory/information storage processes (inferred from habituation and stated interpretation)
Temperature increment during exposure

Limitations

Frequency and detailed signal characteristics of the RF exposure are not stated in the abstract.
Sample size and replication details are not provided in the abstract.
Findings are from mollusk single neurons; generalizability to humans is not addressed in the abstract.
Exposure is acute; longer-term effects are not evaluated in the abstract.
A temperature increase (1.21°C) occurred; separation of thermal vs non-thermal contributions is not described in the abstract.

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": 8.2,
    "duration": "acute"
  },
  "population": "Single neurons of mollusk (living nerve ganglion/neurons)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Neuron excitability (threshold of firing of action potentials)",
    "Habituation time to stimulation (intracellular current injection)",
    "Memory/information storage processes (inferred from habituation and stated interpretation)",
    "Temperature increment during exposure"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Single mollusk neurons were exposed in a TEM cell to a cell phone-like RF EMF; SAR in the neuron was calculated as 8.2 W/kg with a 1.21°C temperature increase. After acute exposure, the action potential firing threshold significantly decreased (p≈0.001) and habituation time to intracellular current stimulation increased (p≈0.003). The authors interpret these changes as impaired ability of neurons to store information under high-SAR acute exposure.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Frequency and detailed signal characteristics of the RF exposure are not stated in the abstract.",
    "Sample size and replication details are not provided in the abstract.",
    "Findings are from mollusk single neurons; generalizability to humans is not addressed in the abstract.",
    "Exposure is acute; longer-term effects are not evaluated in the abstract.",
    "A temperature increase (1.21°C) occurred; separation of thermal vs non-thermal contributions is not described in the abstract."
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radiofrequency",
    "cell phone-like",
    "specific absorption rate",
    "SAR",
    "TEM cell",
    "FDTD",
    "mollusk",
    "single neuron",
    "electrophysiology",
    "action potential threshold",
    "habituation",
    "memory"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "mobile-phones",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Cell phone-like RF EMF exposure with high SAR is central to the study."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.3109/15368378.2012.701190
PubMed: 23046101

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