The relationship between NMDA receptors and microwave-induced learning and memory impairment: A long-term observation on Wistar rats.
Wang H, Peng R, Zhao L, Wang S, Gao Y, Wang L, Zuo H, Dong J, Xu X, Zhou H, Su Z · 2014
View Original AbstractSix minutes of microwave exposure caused learning and memory problems lasting 18 months in rats, suggesting persistent cognitive damage from brief wireless radiation exposure.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed rats to microwave radiation at 2.856 GHz for six minutes and monitored them for 18 months. The rats developed persistent learning and memory problems plus brain damage in memory centers, suggesting brief microwave exposure can cause lasting cognitive harm.
Why This Matters
This study delivers sobering evidence that microwave radiation can cause persistent cognitive damage that lasts well beyond the exposure period. The researchers used a frequency of 2.856 GHz, which falls within the range of common wireless technologies like WiFi and Bluetooth. What makes this research particularly concerning is the duration of effects - rats showed learning and memory problems for the entire 18-month observation period after just 6 minutes of exposure at 50 mW/cm² power density.
The science demonstrates multiple pathways of harm: damaged brain tissue structure, disrupted neurotransmitter balance, and altered receptor expression in the hippocampus. This isn't just one isolated effect but a cascade of neurological changes that persisted long after exposure ended. While we can't directly extrapolate from rat studies to humans, this research adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that microwave radiation may have lasting impacts on cognitive function - effects that warrant serious consideration given our increasing exposure to these frequencies in daily life.
Exposure Details
- Power Density
- 0, 50 µW/m²
- Source/Device
- 2.856 GHz
- Exposure Duration
- 6 min
Exposure Context
This study used 0, 50 µW/m² for radio frequency:
- 5,000Mx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.1 μW/m²
- 83.3Mx above the BioInitiative Report recommendation of 0.0006 μW/cm²
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
To investigate whether high power microwave could cause continuous disorders to learning and memory in Wistar rats and to explore the underlying mechanisms.
Eighty Wistar rats were exposed to a 2.856 GHz pulsed microwave source at a power density of 0 mW/cm...
Our results showed that the microwave-exposed rats showed consistent deficiencies in spatial learnin...
This study indicated that the content of amino acids neurotransmitters, the expression of NMDAR subunits and the variation of hippocampal structure might contribute to the long-term cognitive impairment after microwave exposure.
Show BibTeX
@article{h_2014_the_relationship_between_nmda_198,
author = {Wang H and Peng R and Zhao L and Wang S and Gao Y and Wang L and Zuo H and Dong J and Xu X and Zhou H and Su Z},
title = {The relationship between NMDA receptors and microwave-induced learning and memory impairment: A long-term observation on Wistar rats.},
year = {2014},
doi = {10.3109/09553002.2014.988893},
url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/09553002.2014.988893},
}