Nonthermal effects of lifelong high-frequency electromagnetic field exposure on social memory performance in rats.

Behavioral neuroscience · 2014 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 4682

Rats were continuously exposed to far-field RF at GSM 900 MHz or UMTS 1.966 GHz (SAR 0.4 W/kg) and compared with sham-exposed controls. Exposed females showed no differences in sniffing duration versus controls. Exposed males showed significant effects at 3 m…

Study snapshot

PublicationBehavioral neuroscience · 2014

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

We are today surrounded almost constantly by high-frequency electromagnetic fields (EMFs) from mobile communications base stations. To date, however, there has been little concern regarding nonthermal effects of EMFs on cognition. In the present study, male and female rats were subjected to continuous far-field exposure to a frequency of 900-MHz (Global System for Mobile Communications [GSM]) or 1.966-GHz (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System [UMTS]) at 0.4 W/kg. Memory performance of adult EMF-exposed and sham-exposed female rats (at 6 months of age) and male rats (at 3 and 6 months of age) was tested using a social discrimination procedure. For this procedure, a target juvenile male was introduced to the subject's home cage for 4 min (Trial 1). After 30 min, the same target animal and a novel juvenile male were simultaneously presented to the subject for 4 min (Trial 2). Differences in sniffing duration to the familiar and novel target rats during Trial 2 were used to assess memory performance. EMF-exposed females exhibited no differences in sniffing duration compared with controls. In contrast, the sniffing durations of EMF-exposed males at 3 months of age were significantly affected. At 6 months of age, GSM-, but not UMTS-, exposed male adults showed a memory performance deficit. These findings provide new insight into the nonthermal effects of long-term high-frequency EMF exposure on memory.

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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 directionmixed

PopulationMale and female rats

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 0.4 W/kg · continuous lifelong exposure (tested at 3 and/or 6 months of age)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Social memory performance (social discrimination; sniffing duration differences between familiar vs novel juvenile rat)

Limitations

Sample size not reported in abstract
Exposure duration described as continuous/lifelong but exact start time and total duration not specified in abstract
Only one behavioral paradigm (social discrimination) described in abstract
Sex- and age-specific effects; not consistent across exposure types (GSM vs UMTS)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "base station (far-field)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": 0.4,
    "duration": "continuous lifelong exposure (tested at 3 and/or 6 months of age)"
  },
  "population": "Male and female rats",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Social memory performance (social discrimination; sniffing duration differences between familiar vs novel juvenile rat)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Rats were continuously exposed to far-field RF at GSM 900 MHz or UMTS 1.966 GHz (SAR 0.4 W/kg) and compared with sham-exposed controls. Exposed females showed no differences in sniffing duration versus controls. Exposed males showed significant effects at 3 months, and at 6 months GSM- (but not UMTS-) exposed males showed a memory performance deficit.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Exposure duration described as continuous/lifelong but exact start time and total duration not specified in abstract",
    "Only one behavioral paradigm (social discrimination) described in abstract",
    "Sex- and age-specific effects; not consistent across exposure types (GSM vs UMTS)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radiofrequency",
    "RF-EMF",
    "nonthermal effects",
    "GSM",
    "UMTS",
    "900 MHz",
    "1.966 GHz",
    "SAR 0.4 W/kg",
    "far-field exposure",
    "base stations",
    "rats",
    "social discrimination",
    "social memory",
    "cognition"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "mobile-base-stations",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Abstract frames exposure as far-field EMFs from mobile communications base stations and uses GSM/UMTS frequencies."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1037/a0037299
PubMed: 24999587

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