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Note: This study found no significant biological effects under its experimental conditions. We include all studies for scientific completeness.

Brain & Nervous System

Ultra-wideband electromagnetic pulses and morphine-induced changes in nociception and activity in mice.

No Effects Found

Seaman RL, Belt ML, Doyle JM, Mathur SP · 1998

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Ultra-high intensity electromagnetic pulses showed no effects on mouse pain or movement, but these extreme exposures don't reflect everyday EMF exposure.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed mice to extremely high-intensity ultra-wideband electromagnetic pulses (99-105 kV/m) for up to 45 minutes and tested whether this affected their pain sensitivity and movement, including when combined with morphine. The study found no changes in pain response or activity levels in either normal mice or those given morphine. This suggests these particular electromagnetic pulses did not interfere with the nervous system pathways that control pain and movement.

Why This Matters

This 1998 study examined ultra-wideband pulses at extraordinarily high field strengths - roughly 100,000 volts per meter, which is far beyond anything you'd encounter from consumer devices or even most industrial equipment. The research was conducted by military-affiliated scientists, likely investigating potential weapons applications rather than everyday EMF exposure concerns. While the lack of observed effects might seem reassuring, the exposure characteristics are so extreme and brief (nanosecond pulses) that they bear little resemblance to the continuous, lower-level radiofrequency radiation from cell phones, WiFi, and other common sources. The reality is that this study tells us very little about the health implications of the EMF exposures you actually face in daily life, which operate at completely different frequencies, intensities, and exposure patterns.

Exposure Details

Electric Field
99000 - 105000 V/m
Exposure Duration
15-, 30-, or 45-min

Exposure Context

This study used 99000 - 105000 V/m for electric fields:

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.

Study Details

To study the ultra-wideband electromagnetic pulses and morphine-induced changes in nociception and activity in mice

Mice were exposed to ultra-wideband (UWB) electromagnetic pulses averaging 99-105 kV/m peak amplitud...

Analysis of results showed no effect of UWB exposure on nociception and activity measures in CF-1 mice after 15-, 30-, or 45-min exposure to pulses at 600/s or after 30-min exposure to UWB pulses at 60/s. Similarly, no effect was seen in C57BL/6 mice after 30-min exposure to pulses at 60/s or 600/s. Although trends in morphine-modified measures seen with UWB pulse repetition frequency could be expected because of increased levels of low-frequency energy, no significant change was seen in normal or morphine-modified nociception or activity after UWB exposure. This indicated lack of effect of the UWB pulses used in these experiments on nervous system components, including endogenous opioids, involved in these behaviors.

Cite This Study
Seaman RL, Belt ML, Doyle JM, Mathur SP (1998). Ultra-wideband electromagnetic pulses and morphine-induced changes in nociception and activity in mice. Physiol Behav 65(2):263-270, 1998.
Show BibTeX
@article{rl_1998_ultrawideband_electromagnetic_pulses_and_3388,
  author = {Seaman RL and Belt ML and Doyle JM and Mathur SP},
  title = {Ultra-wideband electromagnetic pulses and morphine-induced changes in nociception and activity in mice.},
  year = {1998},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9855475/},
}
PubMed: 9855475

Cited By (19 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

No, ultra-wideband electromagnetic pulses at extremely high intensities (99-105 kV/m) did not affect pain sensitivity in mice. A 1998 study exposed mice to these pulses for up to 45 minutes and found no changes in pain response, indicating these EMF pulses don't interfere with nervous system pain pathways.
Ultra-wideband electromagnetic pulses do not interfere with morphine's pain-relieving effects in mice. The 1998 study by Seaman found no significant changes in morphine-modified pain responses after exposing mice to high-intensity EMF pulses at 600 pulses per second for various durations.
Researchers tested ultra-wideband electromagnetic pulses at extremely high intensities of 99-105 kV/m (kilovolts per meter). Even at these powerful levels, delivered at rates up to 600 pulses per second for 45 minutes, the study found no effects on mouse pain sensitivity or activity levels.
Ultra-wideband electromagnetic pulses do not affect mouse movement or activity levels. The 1998 study exposed two different mouse strains to high-intensity pulses and found no changes in their normal activity patterns, suggesting these EMF exposures don't impact motor function or general behavior.
Ultra-wideband electromagnetic pulses do not affect endogenous opioid systems in the nervous system. The study concluded that these high-intensity EMF pulses had no effect on nervous system components involved in natural pain control, including the body's own opioid pathways that regulate pain sensitivity.