Effects of Electromagnetic Radiation from Smartphones on Learning Ability and Hippocampal Progenitor Cell Proliferation in Mice.
Choi Y-J, Choi Y-S. · 2016
View Original AbstractSmartphone radiation caused lasting hyperactivity and brain cell activation in mice weeks after exposure ended, suggesting delayed neurological effects.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed mice to smartphone electromagnetic radiation for 9-11 weeks and tested their learning ability and brain cell development. While the radiation didn't affect memory or cell growth, it did activate astrocytes (brain support cells) and caused hyperactivity-like behavior that persisted weeks after exposure ended. This suggests smartphone EMF can trigger lasting changes in brain function even without obvious cognitive impairment.
Why This Matters
This study reveals something important that standard safety testing misses: EMF effects that don't show up immediately but persist long after exposure ends. The fact that these mice developed hyperactivity-like behavior weeks after radiation stopped suggests smartphone EMF can trigger lasting neurological changes. The astrocyte activation is particularly significant because these brain cells play crucial roles in protecting neurons and maintaining brain function. When they become overactive, it often signals underlying stress or inflammation in the brain. What makes this research especially relevant is that the exposure duration (9-11 weeks) roughly parallels how long many people have been heavy smartphone users. While the study doesn't specify exact radiation levels, the delayed behavioral effects suggest we may be missing important long-term consequences by focusing only on immediate, obvious symptoms.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. Duration: 9 weeks and 11 weeks
Study Details
In this study, we intended to elucidate the effect of electromagnetic radiation from smartphones on spatial working memory and progenitor cell proliferation in the hippocampus.
Both male and female mice were randomly separated into two groups (radiated and control) and the rad...
When spatial working memory on a Y maze was examined in the 9(th) week, there was no significant dif...
These data indicate that although chronic electromagnetic radiation does not affect spatial working memory and hippocampal progenitor cell proliferation it can mediate astrocyte activation in the hippocampus and delayed hyperactivity-like behavior.
Show BibTeX
@article{y_j_2016_effects_of_electromagnetic_radiation_1982,
author = {Choi Y-J and Choi Y-S.},
title = {Effects of Electromagnetic Radiation from Smartphones on Learning Ability and Hippocampal Progenitor Cell Proliferation in Mice.},
year = {2016},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26981337/},
}