Response of Hippocampal Neurons and Glial Cells to Alternating Magnetic Field in Gerbils Submitted to Global Cerebral Ischemia.
Rauš S, Selaković V, Manojlović-Stojanoski M, Radenović L, Prolić Z, Janać B. · 2013
View Original AbstractMagnetic fields at 0.5 mT reduced brain damage after stroke in gerbils, suggesting some EMF exposures may have protective effects.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed gerbils to 50 Hz magnetic fields (the same frequency as power lines) for 7 days after inducing stroke-like brain damage. The magnetic field exposure actually reduced brain cell death in the hippocampus, the brain region most critical for memory formation. This suggests that certain magnetic field exposures might have protective effects on brain tissue after injury.
Why This Matters
This study presents a fascinating counterpoint to concerns about EMF exposure by demonstrating potential neuroprotective effects. The 0.5 mT magnetic field strength used is roughly 10 times higher than what you'd typically encounter near household appliances, yet significantly lower than MRI machines. What makes this research particularly intriguing is that it challenges the assumption that all EMF exposure is harmful. The science demonstrates that extremely low-frequency magnetic fields can actually stimulate beneficial cellular responses, including activation of brain support cells that help protect neurons. However, this was a very specific scenario involving brain injury recovery, not everyday health effects in normal brains. The reality is that EMF effects are highly context-dependent, varying by frequency, intensity, duration, and biological state. While this doesn't mean you should seek out magnetic field exposure, it does illustrate why blanket statements about EMF harm oversimplify a complex biological relationship.
Exposure Details
- Magnetic Field
- 0.5 mG
- Source/Device
- 50 Hz
- Exposure Duration
- 7 days
Exposure Context
This study used 0.5 mG for magnetic fields:
- 25Kx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.2 mG
- 5Kx 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
The purpose of this study was to determine whether exposure to an extremely low-frequency magnetic field (ELF-MF, 50 Hz) affects the outcome of postischemic damage in the hippocampus of Mongolian gerbils.
After 10-min bilateral carotid occlusion, the gerbils were continuously exposed to ELF-MF (average m...
ELF-MF per se did not induce any morphological changes, while 10-min global cerebral ischemia led to...
Show BibTeX
@article{s_2013_response_of_hippocampal_neurons_284,
author = {Rauš S and Selaković V and Manojlović-Stojanoski M and Radenović L and Prolić Z and Janać B. },
title = {Response of Hippocampal Neurons and Glial Cells to Alternating Magnetic Field in Gerbils Submitted to Global Cerebral Ischemia.},
year = {2013},
doi = {10.1007/s12640-012-9333-8},
url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12640-012-9333-8},
}