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Effect of head-only sub-chronic and chronic exposure to 900-MHz GSM electromagnetic fields on spatial memory in rats.

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Ammari M, Jacquet A, Lecomte A, Sakly M, Abdelmelek H, de Seze R. · 2008

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Rats exposed to cell phone radiation at levels 3-12 times higher than typical use showed no memory impairment after 24 weeks.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

French researchers exposed rats to 900-MHz cell phone radiation for up to 24 weeks to test whether it would impair their spatial memory and navigation abilities. The rats showed no memory deficits even when exposed to radiation levels 3-12 times higher than typical cell phone use. This suggests that chronic exposure to GSM cell phone signals may not directly damage the brain's memory systems.

Why This Matters

This study provides some reassurance about cell phone radiation's effects on memory, but the findings require careful interpretation. The researchers used SAR levels of 1.5 and 6 W/kg, which are significantly higher than the 2 W/kg regulatory limit for cell phones. What this means for you is that even at these elevated exposure levels, the rats maintained normal spatial memory function. However, this single study doesn't settle the broader question of EMF's neurological effects. The science demonstrates mixed results across different memory and cognitive tests, with some studies showing impairments and others, like this one, finding no effects. The reality is that laboratory studies on memory represent just one piece of a much larger puzzle about how wireless radiation affects brain function.

Exposure Details

SAR
6 W/kg
Source/Device
900-MHz
Exposure Duration
15 minutes per day during 8 or 24 weeks

Exposure Context

This study used 6 W/kg for SAR (device absorption):

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 Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 6 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Extreme Concern rangeFCC limit is 0x higher than this level
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 900 MHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 900 MHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

This study was carried out to investigate the behavioural effects of sub-chronic and chronic head-only exposure to 900 MHz GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) in male rats.

Rats were exposed for 45 minutes per day, at a brain-averaged specific absorption rate (SAR) = 1.5 W...

Performance of exposed rats (1.5 or 6 W Kg(-1)) was compared with that of sham, negative control and...

Sub-chronic and chronic head-only exposure of rats to GSM 900 MHz signal (45-minutes, SAR = 1.5 or 15-minutes, SAR = 6 W Kg(-1)) did not induce spatial memory deficit in the radial-arm maze.

Cite This Study
Ammari M, Jacquet A, Lecomte A, Sakly M, Abdelmelek H, de Seze R. (2008). Effect of head-only sub-chronic and chronic exposure to 900-MHz GSM electromagnetic fields on spatial memory in rats. Brain Inj. 22(13-14):1021-1029, 2008.
Show BibTeX
@article{m_2008_effect_of_headonly_subchronic_814,
  author = {Ammari M and Jacquet A and Lecomte A and Sakly M and Abdelmelek H and de Seze R.},
  title = {Effect of head-only sub-chronic and chronic exposure to 900-MHz GSM electromagnetic fields on spatial memory in rats.},
  year = {2008},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19117181/},
}
PubMed: 19117181

Cited By (42 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

No, French researchers found that rats exposed to 900 MHz GSM radiation for up to 24 weeks showed no spatial memory deficits. Even at radiation levels 3-12 times higher than typical cell phone use, the rats performed normally on navigation tasks in radial-arm maze tests.
Rats were exposed to 900 MHz GSM radiation for up to 24 weeks in this French study. Exposure sessions lasted either 45 minutes daily at 1.5 W/kg or 15 minutes daily at 6 W/kg to test chronic effects on spatial memory.
The 2008 study used two exposure levels: 1.5 W/kg for 45 minutes daily and 6 W/kg for 15 minutes daily. These levels were 3-12 times higher than typical cell phone use, yet rats showed no memory impairment in maze navigation tasks.
No, chronic exposure to GSM 900 MHz signals did not cause navigation problems in rats. After 24 weeks of daily exposure to cell phone radiation levels up to 12 times normal usage, rats performed normally on spatial memory tasks in radial-arm maze tests.
Researchers used radial-arm maze tests to evaluate spatial memory and navigation abilities. This standard test measures how well rats remember locations and navigate through an eight-arm maze, providing reliable assessment of memory function after EMF exposure.