Effect of electric field in conditioned aversion response.
Harakawa S, Nedachi T, Hori T, Takahashi K, Tochio K, Inoue N. · 2008
View Original AbstractElectric fields at power line frequencies can interfere with learning and brain function in mammals, even when the exposure feels pleasant.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed rats to 50 Hz electric fields (the same frequency as household electricity) while training them to avoid bright environments. The electric field exposure interfered with the rats' ability to learn this avoidance behavior, suggesting the fields affected either their vision or brain function. This indicates that mammals can sense and be neurologically affected by electric fields at levels similar to those found near power lines.
Why This Matters
This study provides compelling evidence that electric fields at power line frequencies can directly interfere with brain function and learning processes. The 16,000 V/m exposure level used here is extremely high compared to typical household exposures (which range from 1-100 V/m), but it's within the range you might encounter directly under high-voltage transmission lines. What makes this research particularly significant is that it demonstrates measurable neurological effects from electric field exposure alone, separate from magnetic fields. The fact that rats appeared to find the electric field exposure "preferable" while it simultaneously impaired their learning ability raises important questions about how these fields might affect human cognition and behavior in ways we don't immediately recognize.
Exposure Details
- Electric Field
- 16000 V/m
- Source/Device
- 50 Hz
- Exposure Duration
- 30 min/day on 6 days
Exposure Context
This study used 16000 V/m for electric fields:
- 53.3Kx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.3 V/m
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
The aim of the present study was to estimate whether rat sense exogenous electric field (EF) including one used in our previous studies.
Employing a conditioned place aversion response paradigm based on an aversive behavior against light...
Following conditioning without EF, the times spent in white place in rats was significantly shortene...
. In addition, it was remained that rat possibly sense exposure to EF as preferable. In order to confirm which factor functioned, further studies are needed.
Show BibTeX
@article{s_2008_effect_of_electric_field_256,
author = {Harakawa S and Nedachi T and Hori T and Takahashi K and Tochio K and Inoue N.},
title = {Effect of electric field in conditioned aversion response.},
year = {2008},
url = {https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jvms/70/6/70_6_611/_article/-char/ja/},
}