Effects of long-term electromagnetic field exposure on spatial learning and memory in rats.

Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2013 · Mixed · Low evidence

← Research stream

MixedLow evidencePaper 4545

During weeks 4–5, the exposure group had longer average completion time and higher error rate than controls (p < 0.05), while during weeks 1–3 and 6–9 performance was similar between groups. Hippocampal neurons in the exposed condition showed irregular firing…

Study snapshot

PublicationNeurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2013

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

With the development of communications industry, mobile phone plays an important role in daily life. Whether or not the electromagnetic radiation emitted by mobile phone causes any adverse effects on brain function has become of a great concern. This paper investigated the effect of electromagnetic field on spatial learning and memory in rats. 32 trained Wistar rats were divided into two groups: exposure group and control group. The exposure group was exposed to 916 MHz, 10w/m2 mobile phone electromagnetic field (EMF) 6 h a day, 5 days a week, 10 weeks. The completion time, number of total errors and the neuron discharge signals were recorded while the rats were searching for food in an eight-arm radial maze at every weekend. The neuron signals of one exposed rat and one control rat in the maze were obtained by the implanted microelectrode arrays in their hippocampal regions. It can be seen that during the weeks 4-5 of the experiment, the average completion time and error rate of the exposure group were longer and larger than that of control group (p < 0.05). During the weeks 1-3 and 6-9, they were close to each other. The hippocampal neurons showed irregular firing patterns and more spikes with shorter interspike interval during the whole experiment period. It indicates that the 916 MHz EMF influence learning and memory in rats to some extent in a period during exposure, and the rats can adapt to long-term EMF exposure.

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

PopulationWistar rats

Sample size32

ExposureRF · 916 MHz · 6 h/day, 5 days/week, 10 weeks

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Spatial learning and memory performance in an eight-arm radial maze (completion time, total errors)
Hippocampal neuron discharge signals (microelectrode arrays)

Limitations

Only one exposed rat and one control rat had hippocampal neuron signals recorded via implanted microelectrode arrays
No SAR reported (exposure described as 10 W/m^2 at 916 MHz)
Performance differences were limited to a subset of weeks (weeks 4–5) with similarity in other weeks

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": 916,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "6 h/day, 5 days/week, 10 weeks"
  },
  "population": "Wistar rats",
  "sample_size": 32,
  "outcomes": [
    "Spatial learning and memory performance in an eight-arm radial maze (completion time, total errors)",
    "Hippocampal neuron discharge signals (microelectrode arrays)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "During weeks 4–5, the exposure group had longer average completion time and higher error rate than controls (p < 0.05), while during weeks 1–3 and 6–9 performance was similar between groups. Hippocampal neurons in the exposed condition showed irregular firing patterns and more spikes with shorter interspike intervals during the experiment period.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Only one exposed rat and one control rat had hippocampal neuron signals recorded via implanted microelectrode arrays",
    "No SAR reported (exposure described as 10 W/m^2 at 916 MHz)",
    "Performance differences were limited to a subset of weeks (weeks 4–5) with similarity in other weeks"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "rat",
    "Wistar",
    "916 MHz",
    "radiofrequency",
    "mobile phone",
    "electromagnetic field",
    "spatial learning",
    "memory",
    "radial arm maze",
    "hippocampus",
    "neuronal firing"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "mobile-phones-rf",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Study explicitly uses a 916 MHz mobile phone EMF exposure and assesses neurobehavioral outcomes in rats."
    }
  ]
}

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: 10.1007/s10072-012-0970-8
PubMed: 22362331

Read the original paper →

Related papers

← Back to the Research Library