Effects of 3 Hz and 60 Hz Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Fields on Anxiety-Like Behaviors, Memory Retention of Passive Avoidance and Electrophysiological Properties of Male Rats.

Journal of lasers in medical sciences · 2016 · Mixed · Low evidence

← Research stream

MixedLow evidencePaper 4852

Study snapshot

PublicationJournal of lasers in medical sciences · 2016

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The effects of electromagnetic fields on biological organisms have been a controversial and also interesting debate over the past few decades, despite the wide range of investigations, many aspects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF/EMFs) effects including mechanism of their interaction with live organisms and also their possible biological applications still remain ambiguous. In the present study, we investigated whether the exposures of ELF/EMF with frequencies of 3 Hz and 60 Hz can affect the memory, anxiety like behaviors, electrophysiological properties and brain's proteome in rats. METHODS: Male rats were exposed to 3 Hz and 60 Hz ELF/EMFs in a protocol consisting of 2 cycles of 2 h/day exposure for 4 days separated with a 2-day interval. Short term memory and anxiety like behaviors were assessed immediately, 1 and 2 weeks after the exposures. Effects of short term exposure were also assessed using electrophysiological approach immediately after 2 hours exposure. RESULTS: Behavioral test revealed that immediately after the end of exposures, locomotor activity of both 3 Hz and 60 Hz exposed groups significantly decreased compared to sham group. This exposure protocol had no effect on anxiety like behavior during the 2 weeks after the treatment and also on short term memory. A significant reduction in firing rate of locus coeruleus (LC) was found after 2 hours of both 3 Hz and 60 Hz exposures. Proteome analysis also revealed global changes in whole brain proteome after treatment. CONCLUSION: Here, some evidence regarding the fact that such exposures can alter locomotor activity and neurons firing rate in male rats were presented.

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

PopulationMale rats

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF · 2 cycles of 2 h/day for 4 days, separated by a 2-day interval; electrophysiology assessed immediately after 2 hours exposure

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Immediately after exposures, locomotor activity in both 3 Hz and 60 Hz exposed groups significantly decreased versus sham. The exposure protocol had no effect on anxiety-like behavior over 2 weeks after treatment and no effect on short-term memory. After 2 hours of exposure, locus coeruleus firing rate was significantly reduced for both 3 Hz and 60 Hz exposures, and proteome analysis indicated global changes in whole brain proteome after treatment.

Outcomes measured

Anxiety-like behaviors
Short-term memory retention (passive avoidance)
Locomotor activity
Electrophysiological properties (locus coeruleus firing rate)
Whole brain proteome changes

Limitations

Sample size not reported in abstract
Exposure intensity/dose metrics (e.g., field strength) not reported in abstract
Animal study; generalizability to humans is unclear
Proteome findings described as global changes without specific proteins/pathways in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "2 cycles of 2 h/day for 4 days, separated by a 2-day interval; electrophysiology assessed immediately after 2 hours exposure"
  },
  "population": "Male rats",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Anxiety-like behaviors",
    "Short-term memory retention (passive avoidance)",
    "Locomotor activity",
    "Electrophysiological properties (locus coeruleus firing rate)",
    "Whole brain proteome changes"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Immediately after exposures, locomotor activity in both 3 Hz and 60 Hz exposed groups significantly decreased versus sham. The exposure protocol had no effect on anxiety-like behavior over 2 weeks after treatment and no effect on short-term memory. After 2 hours of exposure, locus coeruleus firing rate was significantly reduced for both 3 Hz and 60 Hz exposures, and proteome analysis indicated global changes in whole brain proteome after treatment.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Exposure intensity/dose metrics (e.g., field strength) not reported in abstract",
    "Animal study; generalizability to humans is unclear",
    "Proteome findings described as global changes without specific proteins/pathways in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "extremely low frequency",
    "ELF-EMF",
    "3 Hz",
    "60 Hz",
    "rats",
    "anxiety-like behavior",
    "passive avoidance",
    "short-term memory",
    "locomotor activity",
    "locus coeruleus",
    "firing rate",
    "proteome"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.2,
      "reason": "Study involves ELF exposure (3 Hz, 60 Hz), which can be relevant to ELF exposure discussions, though no occupational setting is specified."
    }
  ]
}

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: 10.15171/jlms.2016.20
PubMed: 27330708

Read the original paper →

Related papers

← Back to the Research Library