Note: This study found no significant biological effects under its experimental conditions. We include all studies for scientific completeness.
Magnetoreception in the wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus): influence of weak frequency-modulated radio frequency fields.
Malkemper EP, Eder SH, Begall S, Phillips JB, Winklhofer M, Hart V, Burda H · 2015
View Original AbstractWood mice exposed to a 0.9 to 5 MHz frequency sweep changed their preference from north-south to east-west.
Plain English Summary
The researchers tested the wood mouse Apodemus sylvaticus for magnetoreception using a simple behavioural assay in which mice were allowed to build nests overnight in a visually symmetrical, circular arena. When plotted with respect to magnetic north, the nests were bimodally clustered in the northern and southern sectors, indicating the animals used magnetic cues. Wood mice exposed to a 0.9 to 5 MHz frequency sweep changed their preference from north-south to east-west. A constant frequency field tuned to the Larmor frequency (1.33 MHz) had no effect on mouse orientation. The study demonstrated magnetoreception in wood mice and provided first evidence for a radical-pair mechanism in a mammal.
Why This Matters
The tests were performed in the ambient magnetic field or in a field rotated by 90°. Additionally, mice were tested in the ambient magnetic field with a superimposed radio frequency magnetic field of the order of 100 nT.
Exposure Details
- Magnetic Field
- 0.0001 mT
- Source/Device
- 0.9 to 5 MHz
Exposure Context
This study used 0.0001 mT for magnetic fields:
- 5x above the Building Biology guideline of 0.2 mG
- 1x 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
Here, we tested the wood mouse Apodemus sylvaticus for magnetoreception using a simple behavioural assay in which mice are allowed to build nests overnight in a visually symmetrical, circular arena.
The tests were performed in the ambient magnetic field or in a field rotated by 90°. When plotted wi...
Wood mice exposed to a 0.9 to 5 MHz frequency sweep changed their preference from north-south to eas...
In sum, we demonstrated magnetoreception in wood mice and provide first evidence for a radical-pair mechanism in a mammal.
Show BibTeX
@article{ep_2015_magnetoreception_in_the_wood_3221,
author = {Malkemper EP and Eder SH and Begall S and Phillips JB and Winklhofer M and Hart V and Burda H},
title = {Magnetoreception in the wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus): influence of weak frequency-modulated radio frequency fields.},
year = {2015},
url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/srep09917},
}