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STUDY OF CONDITIONED REFLEXES IN ANIMALS (WHITE RATS) EXPOSED TO ULTRA-SHORT AND SHORT WAVES (RUSSIAN)

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Ye. A. Lobanova, A.V. Goncharova · 1971

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Early 1971 research investigated whether electromagnetic waves could disrupt learned behaviors in rats, foreshadowing modern concerns about EMF effects on brain function.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

This 1971 Russian study examined how ultra-short and short wave electromagnetic radiation affected conditioned reflexes (learned behaviors) in white rats. The research investigated whether EMF exposure could disrupt the nervous system's ability to form and maintain learned responses. While specific findings aren't available, this early work explored EMF's potential impact on brain function and behavior.

Why This Matters

This pioneering 1971 research represents some of the earliest scientific investigation into EMF's effects on nervous system function. The study's focus on conditioned reflexes was particularly insightful, as these learned behaviors require precise coordination between different brain regions. Any disruption would signal broader neurological impacts. The researchers chose to study ultra-short and short waves, frequencies that encompass much of today's wireless technology spectrum. What makes this work especially relevant is that it predates the wireless revolution by decades, yet anticipated concerns we're grappling with today. While we lack the specific results, the very fact that Soviet scientists were investigating EMF's neurological effects in 1971 suggests early recognition of potential risks that regulatory agencies are still debating.

Figures from the Original Paper

Diagram extracted from the original research document.

chartPage 3 - Changes in the conditioned reflex latency period with irradiation using ultrashort and short waves.
p. 3 of the original PDF

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 150 MHz to 167 MHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 150 MHz to 167 MHzPower lines50/60 HzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. Duration: 60 min/day for four months

Study Details

To investigate the functions of the higher sections of the central nervous system in animals (white rats) in a chronic experiment using the conditioned reflex method.

The study was conducted on 14 rats (10 experimental and 4 control animals) in 3 stages: stage I -- d...

No significant changes in conditioned reflexes were observed in four out of five animals in the firs...

In contrast to USW, the nature of the central nervous system reaction to chronic exposure to SW indicated their inhibiting effect on the cerebral cortex (attenuation of excitation and inhibition) during two months of irradiation and subsequent attenuation of this effect. The decrease in the external signs of the inhibiting effect of SW, despite the continuing irradiation apparently occurred due to the extreme plasticity of the central nervous system, which attempted to maintain the equilibrium between the internal and external environment, and also due to the low pathogenicity of the factor (with the intensity and duration indicated). The increase in cortical excitability with chronic irradiation with USW should apparently be considered as a reaction to a weak stimulus, and the inhibition with SW radiation should be considered the reaction to a stronger stimulus.

Cite This Study
Ye. A. Lobanova, A.V. Goncharova (1971). STUDY OF CONDITIONED REFLEXES IN ANIMALS (WHITE RATS) EXPOSED TO ULTRA-SHORT AND SHORT WAVES (RUSSIAN).
Show BibTeX
@article{study_of_conditioned_reflexes_in_animals_white_rats_exposed_to_ultra_short_and_s_g4702,
  author = {Ye. A. Lobanova and A.V. Goncharova},
  title = {STUDY OF CONDITIONED REFLEXES IN ANIMALS (WHITE RATS) EXPOSED TO ULTRA-SHORT AND SHORT WAVES (RUSSIAN)},
  year = {1971},
  
  
}
No DOI on file for this study.

Quick Questions About This Study

Conditioned reflexes are learned behaviors where rats associate a stimulus (like a sound) with a reward or consequence. Scientists use these to test whether EMF exposure affects the brain's ability to form, remember, or execute learned responses.
These frequency ranges encompass much of the electromagnetic spectrum used in communications and radar. By studying both ultra-short and short waves, researchers could assess whether different EMF frequencies had varying effects on nervous system function.
Conditioned reflexes require precise coordination between brain regions for memory, decision-making, and motor control. If EMF exposure disrupts these learned behaviors, it suggests the electromagnetic fields are interfering with normal brain function and neural communication.
This study represents early scientific recognition that electromagnetic fields might affect brain function, decades before widespread wireless technology. It shows researchers were investigating EMF neurological risks long before cell phones and WiFi became ubiquitous in daily life.
Rats share similar nervous system organization with humans, making behavioral studies relevant for understanding potential human effects. Conditioned reflex testing was a standard method for assessing neurological function and detecting subtle brain changes from environmental exposures.