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Microwave irradiation affects radial-arm maze performance in the rat

Bioelectromagnetics · 1994 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 6687

After 45 min exposure to pulsed 2450 MHz microwaves (1 mW/cm2; average whole-body SAR 0.6 W/kg), rats showed retarded learning in the radial-arm maze, interpreted as a deficit in spatial working memory. The behavioral deficit was reversed by pretreatment with…

Study snapshot

PublicationBioelectromagnetics · 1994
Study typeanimal
Reported directionHarm
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

After 45 min of exposure to pulsed 2450 MHz microwaves (2 microseconds pulses, 500 pps, 1 mW/cm2, average whole body SAR 0.6 W/kg), rats showed retarded learning while performing in the radial-arm maze to obtain food rewards, indicating a deficit in spatial "working memory" function. This behavioral deficit was reversed by pretreatment before exposure with the cholinergic agonist physostigmine or the opiate antagonist naltrexone, whereas pretreatment with the peripheral opiate antagonist naloxone methiodide showed no reversal of effect. These data indicate that both cholinergic and endogenous opioid neurotransmitter systems in the brain are involved in the microwave-induced spatial memory deficit.

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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
PopulationRats
Sample sizeNot supplied
Exposuremicrowave · 2450 MHz · 0.6 W/kg · 45 min
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

After 45 min exposure to pulsed 2450 MHz microwaves (1 mW/cm2; average whole-body SAR 0.6 W/kg), rats showed retarded learning in the radial-arm maze, interpreted as a deficit in spatial working memory. The behavioral deficit was reversed by pretreatment with physostigmine or naltrexone, but not by naloxone methiodide.

Outcomes measured

  • Radial-arm maze performance
  • Learning
  • Spatial working memory

Limitations

  • Sample size not reported in abstract
  • Only short-term (45 min) exposure described in abstract
  • Details on randomization/blinding and exposure controls not provided in abstract
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "microwave",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 2450,
    "sar_wkg": 0.6,
    "duration": "45 min"
  },
  "population": "Rats",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Radial-arm maze performance",
    "Learning",
    "Spatial working memory"
  ],
  "main_findings": "After 45 min exposure to pulsed 2450 MHz microwaves (1 mW/cm2; average whole-body SAR 0.6 W/kg), rats showed retarded learning in the radial-arm maze, interpreted as a deficit in spatial working memory. The behavioral deficit was reversed by pretreatment with physostigmine or naltrexone, but not by naloxone methiodide.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Only short-term (45 min) exposure described in abstract",
    "Details on randomization/blinding and exposure controls not provided in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "microwave",
    "2450 MHz",
    "pulsed exposure",
    "SAR",
    "radial-arm maze",
    "spatial working memory",
    "learning",
    "physostigmine",
    "naltrexone",
    "opioid system",
    "cholinergic system",
    "rat"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "rf-animal-studies",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Animal experiment assessing behavioral/cognitive effects after 2450 MHz microwave exposure."
    }
  ]
}
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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: 10.1002/bem.2250150202
PubMed: 8024608

Read the original paper →

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