Acute exposure to a 50 Hz magnetic field impairs consolidation of spatial memory in rats
Jadidi M, Firoozabadi SM, Rashidy-Pour A, Sajadi AA, Sadeghi H, Taherian AA. · 2007
View Original AbstractMagnetic field exposure during memory formation can impair long-term recall, suggesting our brains are vulnerable during learning.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed rats to 50 Hz magnetic fields (power line frequency) for 20 minutes after they learned a memory task. High-intensity exposure (8 milliTesla) impaired their ability to remember the task 48 hours later, suggesting magnetic fields can disrupt how the brain stores new memories.
Why This Matters
This study provides compelling evidence that magnetic field exposure can interfere with one of our brain's most fundamental processes: forming lasting memories. The 8 milliTesla exposure level used here is substantially higher than typical household exposures (which range from 0.01 to 0.2 milliTesla), but it's within the range found near high-voltage power lines or certain industrial equipment. What makes this research particularly significant is its focus on memory consolidation, the critical window when the brain transfers information from temporary to permanent storage. The science demonstrates that timing matters crucially - the magnetic field only caused problems when applied during this vulnerable consolidation period, not during memory retrieval. This finding aligns with growing research showing that EMF exposure can affect neurological function, and it raises important questions about chronic exposure effects on learning and memory formation in humans.
Exposure Details
- Magnetic Field
- 2,8 mG
- Source/Device
- 50 Hz
- Exposure Duration
- 20 min
Exposure Context
This study used 2,8 mG for magnetic fields:
- 100Kx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.2 mG
- 20Kx 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
This study was planned to evaluate the effect of an exposure to magnetic fields on consolidation and retrieval of hippocampus dependent spatial memory using a water maze.
In Experiments 1 and 2, rats were trained in a hidden version (spatial) of water maze task with two ...
Exposure to a 50 Hz 8 mT, but not 2 mT magnetic fields for 20 min immediately after training impaire...
These findings indicate that acute exposure to a 50 Hz magnetic field at 8 mT for short time can impair consolidation of spatial memory.
Show BibTeX
@article{m_2007_acute_exposure_to_a_262,
author = {Jadidi M and Firoozabadi SM and Rashidy-Pour A and Sajadi AA and Sadeghi H and Taherian AA.},
title = {Acute exposure to a 50 Hz magnetic field impairs consolidation of spatial memory in rats},
year = {2007},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S107474270700113X},
}