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Brain & Nervous System

Effects of 1.8 GHz Radiofrequency Fields on the Emotional Behavior and Spatial Memory of Adolescent Mice.

No Effects Found

Zhang JP, Zhang KY, Guo L, Chen QL, Gao P, Wang T, Li J, Guo GZ, Ding GR. · 2017

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Cell phone frequency radiation increased anxiety behavior in adolescent mice while reducing calming brain chemicals, suggesting developmental vulnerability.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Chinese researchers exposed adolescent mice to cell phone frequency radiation (1.8 GHz) for four weeks and tested their behavior and brain function. While the mice showed no changes in depression, memory, or brain structure, they did display increased anxiety-like behavior and had lower levels of key brain chemicals that regulate mood and brain activity. This suggests that radiofrequency exposure during adolescence may specifically affect anxiety responses in the developing brain.

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 1.80 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 1.80 GHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

The study examined exposure from: 1.8 GHz

Study Details

In this study, we investigated the effects of 4-week exposure to a 1.8 GHz RF field on the emotional behavior and spatial memory of adolescent male mice.

Anxiety-like behavior was evaluated by open field test (OFT) and elevated plus maze (EPM) test, whil...

It was found that the depression-like behavior, spatial memory ability and histology of the brain di...

These data suggested that RF exposure under these conditions do not affect the depression-like behavior, spatial memory and brain histology in adolescent male mice, but it may however increase the level of anxiety, and GABA and Asp were probably involved in this effect.

Cite This Study
Zhang JP, Zhang KY, Guo L, Chen QL, Gao P, Wang T, Li J, Guo GZ, Ding GR. (2017). Effects of 1.8 GHz Radiofrequency Fields on the Emotional Behavior and Spatial Memory of Adolescent Mice. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 14(11), 2017. pii: E1344. doi: 10.3390/ijerph14111344.
Show BibTeX
@article{jp_2017_effects_of_18_ghz_3504,
  author = {Zhang JP and Zhang KY and Guo L and Chen QL and Gao P and Wang T and Li J and Guo GZ and Ding GR.},
  title = {Effects of 1.8 GHz Radiofrequency Fields on the Emotional Behavior and Spatial Memory of Adolescent Mice.},
  year = {2017},
  
  url = {https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5707983/},
}

Quick Questions About This Study

Research suggests cell phone radiation may increase anxiety in developing brains. A 2017 study found adolescent mice exposed to 1.8 GHz radiation showed increased anxiety-like behavior and decreased levels of brain chemicals that regulate mood, though memory and depression remained unchanged.
Phone radiation may specifically impact anxiety responses during adolescence. Chinese researchers found that four weeks of 1.8 GHz exposure increased anxiety behavior in young mice and reduced key brain neurotransmitters, while leaving memory function and brain structure intact.
Current research indicates 1.8 GHz radiation doesn't impair memory function. A 2017 study exposed adolescent mice to this frequency for four weeks and found no significant changes in spatial memory ability, though anxiety levels did increase during exposure.
Cell phone tower frequencies may increase anxiety responses, particularly in developing brains. Research shows 1.8 GHz exposure can elevate anxiety-like behavior and reduce mood-regulating brain chemicals, though effects on memory and depression appear minimal based on animal studies.
Radiofrequency exposure can reduce important brain neurotransmitters. Studies show 1.8 GHz radiation decreases GABA and aspartic acid levels in key brain regions, which may explain increased anxiety responses while leaving memory and mood regulation largely unaffected.