Hypoactivity of Wistar rats exposed to mobile phone on elevated plus maze.
Kumar RS, Sareesh NN, Nayak S, Mailankot M. · 2009
View Original AbstractMobile phone radiation exposure caused anxiety-like behavioral changes in rats at everyday usage levels, suggesting potential neurological effects.
Plain English Summary
Rats exposed to cell phone radiation (900-1,800 MHz) for four weeks showed increased anxiety-like behavior in maze tests, exploring open areas less than unexposed rats. This suggests mobile phone radiation may affect brain function and stress responses in ways relevant to human health.
Why This Matters
This study adds to growing evidence that mobile phone radiation affects brain function and behavior, even at exposure levels similar to everyday phone use. The elevated plus maze is a well-established behavioral test where reduced open-arm exploration indicates increased anxiety-like responses in rodents. What makes this research particularly relevant is that the exposure protocol mimicked real-world phone usage patterns through missed calls rather than continuous radiation. While the study is preliminary with a small sample size and lacks detailed exposure measurements, it aligns with other research showing neurological effects from RF radiation. The behavioral changes observed suggest that mobile phone radiation may influence brain chemistry and neural pathways involved in anxiety and stress responses, which could have implications for human mental health given our constant exposure to these devices.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. The study examined exposure from: 900–1,800 MHz Duration: 50 missed call/day, 4 wk
Study Details
To study whether mobile phone exposure causes changes in behavior of rats in the elevated plus maze.
The animals were divided into two groups of six rats each: control group and exposure group. Three o...
In conclusion, our preliminary results indicate mobile phone exposure induced behavioral changes in rats, expressed as deficit in open arm exploration on elevated plus-maze.
Show BibTeX
@article{rs_2009_hypoactivity_of_wistar_rats_1509,
author = {Kumar RS and Sareesh NN and Nayak S and Mailankot M.},
title = {Hypoactivity of Wistar rats exposed to mobile phone on elevated plus maze.},
year = {2009},
url = {https://www.researchgate.net/publication/215615829_Hypoactivity_of_Wistar_rats_exposed_to_hand-held_mobile_phone_on_elevated_plus_maze},
}