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Involvement of NMDA receptor in low-frequency magnetic field-induced anxiety in mice.

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Salunke BP, Umathe SN, Chavan JG. · 2014

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Long-term magnetic field exposure at 10 Gauss increased anxiety in mice by altering brain neurotransmitter systems.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed mice to 50 Hz magnetic fields (the same frequency as household electricity) for up to 120 days and measured anxiety-like behaviors. The magnetic field exposure significantly increased anxiety in the animals, and the researchers identified that this effect occurred through changes in NMDA receptors in the brain. The study provides biological evidence that long-term exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields can alter brain chemistry and behavior.

Why This Matters

This research adds important biological evidence to our understanding of how ELF magnetic fields affect the nervous system. The 10 Gauss exposure level used in this study is higher than typical household exposures (which range from 1-4 milligauss in most homes), but it's within the range you might encounter near power lines or electrical equipment. What makes this study particularly significant is that it doesn't just show behavioral changes - it identifies the specific brain mechanism involved. The researchers found that ELF exposure altered levels of key neurotransmitters (GABA and glutamate) in critical brain regions like the hippocampus, which is essential for memory and emotion regulation. The fact that anxiety increased progressively over the 120-day exposure period suggests cumulative effects, which has implications for people living near high-EMF environments long-term.

Exposure Details

Magnetic Field
1 mG
Source/Device
50 Hz
Exposure Duration
8 hours/day for 7, 30, 60, 90, or 120 days

Exposure Context

This study used 1 mG for magnetic fields:

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 Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 1 mGExtreme Concern - 5 mGFCC Limit - 2,000 mGEffects observed in the Severe Concern rangeFCC limit is 2,000x higher than this level
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 50 Hz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 50 HzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

the present study was carried out to understand the contribution of NMDA and/or GABA receptors modulation in ELFMF-induced anxiety for which Swiss albino mice were exposed to ELFMF (50 Hz, 10 G) by subjecting them to Helmholtz coils.

The exposure was for 8 h/day for 7, 30, 60, 90 and 120 days. Anxiety level was assessed in elevated ...

Glutamate receptor agonist exacerbated while inhibitor attenuated the ELFMF-induced anxiety. In addi...

Together, these findings suggest that ELFMF significantly induced anxiety behavior, and indicated the involvement of NMDA receptor in its effect.

Cite This Study
Salunke BP, Umathe SN, Chavan JG. (2014). Involvement of NMDA receptor in low-frequency magnetic field-induced anxiety in mice. Electromagn Biol Med 2014; 33 (4): 312-326.
Show BibTeX
@article{bp_2014_involvement_of_nmda_receptor_293,
  author = {Salunke BP and Umathe SN and Chavan JG. },
  title = {Involvement of NMDA receptor in low-frequency magnetic field-induced anxiety in mice.},
  year = {2014},
  doi = {10.3109/15368378.2013.839453},
  url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/15368378.2013.839453},
}
DOI: 10.3109/15368378.2013.839453

Cited By (24 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, a 2014 study found that mice exposed to 50 Hz magnetic fields (the same frequency as household electricity) for up to 120 days showed significantly increased anxiety behaviors. The researchers identified that these effects occurred through changes in NMDA receptors in the brain.
Research shows that 50 Hz magnetic field exposure can cause anxiety-like behaviors in mice after extended exposure periods of up to 120 days. The study found significant behavioral changes along with alterations in brain chemistry, particularly affecting NMDA receptors.
Yes, researchers found that NMDA receptors are directly involved in anxiety caused by 50 Hz magnetic field exposure. When they used glutamate receptor agonists, anxiety worsened, while inhibitors reduced the EMF-induced anxiety effects in mice.
Studies show that 50 Hz magnetic fields significantly elevate GABA and glutamate levels specifically in the hippocampus and hypothalamus brain regions. These neurotransmitter changes in these areas appear linked to the anxiety-inducing effects of power line frequency EMF.
Research demonstrates that 50 Hz magnetic fields (household electricity frequency) significantly alter brain neurotransmitter levels, particularly increasing GABA and glutamate in the hippocampus and hypothalamus. These chemical changes correlate with increased anxiety behaviors in laboratory studies.