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THE EFFECT OF MICROWAVE RADIATION ON EVOKED TACTILE AND AUDITORY CNS RESPONSE IN CATS

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Arthur W. Guy, James C. Lin, Fredric A. Harris · 1972

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1972 cat study showed 915 MHz microwave radiation altered brain responses at 5 mW/cm³ with temperature increases.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

This 1972 study exposed cats' heads to 915 MHz microwave radiation and measured changes in their nervous system responses to touch and sound. The researchers found that brain activity was altered at power levels around 5 mW/cm³, with temperature increases occurring alongside these neurological changes. This early research demonstrated that microwave radiation can directly affect central nervous system function in mammals.

Why This Matters

This pioneering study from 1972 represents some of the earliest controlled research demonstrating that microwave radiation can alter central nervous system function in mammals. The findings are particularly significant because they show measurable neurological effects at relatively low power densities, with temperature rises accompanying the changes in brain activity. What makes this research especially relevant today is that 915 MHz falls within the frequency range used by modern wireless devices, though the specific absorption rates and exposure patterns differ from our current technology. The fact that researchers noted variations based on electrode composition also highlights how technical factors can influence EMF research results, a consideration that remains important in evaluating modern studies. While we can't directly extrapolate from cat studies to human health effects, this research established early evidence that microwave frequencies can penetrate biological tissue and influence neural activity, laying groundwork for decades of subsequent EMF research.

Exposure Information

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Cite This Study
Arthur W. Guy, James C. Lin, Fredric A. Harris (1972). THE EFFECT OF MICROWAVE RADIATION ON EVOKED TACTILE AND AUDITORY CNS RESPONSE IN CATS.
Show BibTeX
@article{the_effect_of_microwave_radiation_on_evoked_tactile_and_auditory_cns_response_in_g3996,
  author = {Arthur W. Guy and James C. Lin and Fredric A. Harris},
  title = {THE EFFECT OF MICROWAVE RADIATION ON EVOKED TACTILE AND AUDITORY CNS RESPONSE IN CATS},
  year = {1972},
  
  
}

Quick Questions About This Study

The researchers used 915 MHz microwave radiation, a frequency that falls within the range used by some modern wireless devices. This frequency was specifically chosen to study how microwave energy affects nervous system responses in mammalian subjects.
The threshold for neurological changes was around 5 mW/cm³ (milliwatts per cubic centimeter) of absorbed power density. This represents the level where researchers consistently observed alterations in the cats' tactile and auditory brain responses during exposure.
Yes, temperature rises were always associated with the observed changes in brain activity. The researchers noted that whenever they detected alterations in the cats' nervous system responses, there was also a corresponding increase in tissue temperature.
Researchers measured evoked tactile and auditory CNS (central nervous system) responses, which are the brain's electrical reactions to touch and sound stimuli. They found changes in both the timing (latency) and strength (amplitude) of these responses.
Different electrode materials produced varying results, suggesting that the recording equipment itself could create artifacts or interfere with measurements. This finding highlighted potential technical issues that might have affected other EMF research of that era.