Head-only exposure to GSM 900-MHz electromagnetic fields does not alter rat's memory in spatial and non-spatial tasks.

Behavioural brain research · 2003 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 5259

Study snapshot

PublicationBehavioural brain research · 2003

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Over the last decade, exposure to high frequency (2450 MHz) electromagnetic fields (EMFs) has been found to induce performance deficit in rodents in spatial memory tasks. As concern was expressed about potential biological effects of mobile communication microwaves, studies testing the effects of signals such as GSM were required. In a previous study, using head-only exposure to 900 MHz GSM EMF, we could not demonstrate any behavioural deficit in two simple learning tasks. The present study aimed at extending these results with more complex spatial learning tasks and a non-spatial task. In a first experiment, rats were trained in a radial-arm maze with a 10-s confinement between each visited arm. In a second experiment, a 15-min intra-trial delay was introduced after four visited arms. In a third experiment, non-spatial memory was tested in an object recognition task. In all experiments, performance of the head-only exposed rats (1 and 3.5 W/kg) was compared with that of sham and control rats. In the first experiment, a slightly improved performance was found after 3.5 W/kg exposure, a result that was not observed in the delay-task. In the third experiment, although some effects on exploratory activity were found, recognition memory was unaffected in exposed rats. Altogether, this set of experiments provides no evidence indicating that spatial and non-spatial memory can be affected by a 45-min head-only exposure to 900 MHz GSM EMF.

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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

PopulationRats

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 900 MHz · 45-min head-only exposure

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Across three experiments comparing head-only GSM 900 MHz exposure (reported SAR levels 1 and 3.5 W/kg) versus sham and control, spatial and non-spatial memory outcomes were not adversely affected. A slight performance improvement was observed at 3.5 W/kg in one radial-arm maze experiment but was not replicated in the delay task; object recognition memory was unaffected though some effects on exploratory activity were noted.

Outcomes measured

Spatial memory performance (radial-arm maze)
Spatial learning with intra-trial delay (radial-arm maze)
Non-spatial recognition memory (object recognition task)
Exploratory activity

Limitations

Sample size not reported in abstract
Exposure details beyond frequency, head-only setup, duration, and SAR levels not provided in abstract (e.g., modulation specifics, dosimetry methods)
Only short-term (single 45-min) exposure assessed

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": 900,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "45-min head-only exposure"
  },
  "population": "Rats",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Spatial memory performance (radial-arm maze)",
    "Spatial learning with intra-trial delay (radial-arm maze)",
    "Non-spatial recognition memory (object recognition task)",
    "Exploratory activity"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Across three experiments comparing head-only GSM 900 MHz exposure (reported SAR levels 1 and 3.5 W/kg) versus sham and control, spatial and non-spatial memory outcomes were not adversely affected. A slight performance improvement was observed at 3.5 W/kg in one radial-arm maze experiment but was not replicated in the delay task; object recognition memory was unaffected though some effects on exploratory activity were noted.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Exposure details beyond frequency, head-only setup, duration, and SAR levels not provided in abstract (e.g., modulation specifics, dosimetry methods)",
    "Only short-term (single 45-min) exposure assessed"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "GSM",
    "900 MHz",
    "RF EMF",
    "head-only exposure",
    "SAR",
    "rat",
    "spatial memory",
    "radial-arm maze",
    "object recognition",
    "non-spatial memory",
    "exploratory activity"
  ],
  "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: 10.1016/s0166-4328(03)00100-1
PubMed: 14529805

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