Effects of exposure to an extremely low frequency electromagnetic field on hippocampal long-term potentiation in rat.
Komaki A, Khalili A, Salehi I, Shahidi S, Sarihi A. · 2014
View Original AbstractChronic exposure to 50Hz magnetic fields altered brain cell communication in rats, proving EMFs can change fundamental learning processes.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed rats to 50Hz electromagnetic fields from power lines for 90 days and found enhanced brain connections in the hippocampus, the memory center. This suggests chronic exposure to everyday electrical fields may alter how our brains process and store information.
Why This Matters
This study reveals that chronic exposure to power frequency EMFs fundamentally alters brain function at the cellular level. The 100 microtesla exposure used here is well within the range of everyday exposures - you might experience similar levels living near power lines or using certain electrical appliances for extended periods. What makes this research particularly significant is that it demonstrates measurable changes in synaptic plasticity, the very mechanism by which our brains learn and form memories. While the researchers frame enhanced LTP as potentially beneficial, the reality is more complex. Any artificial alteration of natural brain processes raises questions about long-term consequences we don't yet understand. The science demonstrates that EMFs aren't biologically inert - they're actively changing how our neurons communicate, which should inform how we think about chronic exposure in our daily lives.
Exposure Details
- Magnetic Field
- 0.1 mG
- Source/Device
- 50Hz
- Exposure Duration
- 90 consecutive days (2h/day)
Exposure Context
This study used 0.1 mG for magnetic fields:
- 5Kx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.2 mG
- 1Kx above the BioInitiative Report recommendation of 1 mG
Building Biology guidelines are practitioner-based limits from real-world assessments. BioInitiative Report recommendations are based on peer-reviewed science. Check Your Exposure to compare your own measurements.
Where This Falls on the Concern Scale
Study Details
In the present study, we investigated whether ELF-EMFs can change induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) and paired-pulse ratio (PPR) in the rat hippocampal area.
Twenty-nine adult male Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups (ELF-EMF exposed, sham and control gro...
Prolonged exposure to ELF-EMFs increased LTP induction. There was a significant difference in the sl...
In conclusion, our data suggest that exposure to ELF-EMFs produces a marked change in the synaptic plasticity generated in synapses of the PP-DG. No significant difference in PPR of ELF-EMF group before and after HFS suggests a postsynaptic expression site of LTP.
Show BibTeX
@article{a_2014_effects_of_exposure_to_665,
author = {Komaki A and Khalili A and Salehi I and Shahidi S and Sarihi A.},
title = {Effects of exposure to an extremely low frequency electromagnetic field on hippocampal long-term potentiation in rat.},
year = {2014},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24727530/},
}