Effect of 1.8 GHz radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation on novel object associative recognition memory in mice.
Wang K, Lu JM, Xing ZH, Zhao QR, Hu LQ, Xue L, Zhang J, Mei YA. · 2017
View Original AbstractEven brief RF exposure can physically alter brain cell structure and memory function, proving electromagnetic fields are biologically active.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed mice to 1.8 GHz radiofrequency radiation (similar to cell phone signals) for 30 minutes and found it actually improved their memory performance on recognition tasks. The radiation changed brain cell structure and electrical activity in memory-related brain regions. However, the exposure level used was much higher than what people typically experience from everyday devices.
Why This Matters
This study presents an interesting paradox in EMF research - while most studies examining cognitive effects of radiofrequency radiation report impairments, this research found memory enhancement at high exposure levels. The 3.3 W/kg SAR used here is significantly higher than typical cell phone exposures (which average 0.5-1.5 W/kg during calls). What makes this particularly noteworthy is the documented physical changes in brain tissue - increased dendritic spine density and altered neuronal firing patterns. The reality is that any biological effect, whether seemingly positive or negative, demonstrates that RF radiation is bioactive and can modify brain function. The researchers themselves acknowledge the exposure levels were 'outside the range encountered in normal daily life,' but the fundamental finding remains: radiofrequency radiation measurably changes how brain cells operate. This adds to the growing body of evidence that dismissing EMF as biologically inert is scientifically untenable.
Exposure Details
- SAR
- >2.2 W/kg
- Source/Device
- 1.8 GHz
- Exposure Duration
- 30 minutes
Where This Falls on the Concern Scale
Study Details
The aim of this study is to investigate Effect of 1.8 GHz radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation on novel object associative recognition memory in mice.
In this study, we examined the effects of single exposure to 1.8 GHz RF-EMR for 30 min on subsequent...
RF-EMR exposure at an intensity of >2.2 W/kg specific absorption rate (SAR) power density induced a ...
The SAR in this study (3.3 W/kg) was outside the range encountered in normal daily life, and its relevance as a potential therapeutic approach for disorders associated with recognition memory deficits remains to be clarified.
Show BibTeX
@article{k_2017_effect_of_18_ghz_1423,
author = {Wang K and Lu JM and Xing ZH and Zhao QR and Hu LQ and Xue L and Zhang J and Mei YA.},
title = {Effect of 1.8 GHz radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation on novel object associative recognition memory in mice.},
year = {2017},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28303965/#:~:text=These%20results%20demonstrate%20that%20exposure,the%20hippocampus%20and%20prefrontal%20cortex.},
}