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Effect of Electromagnetic Pulses (EMP) on associative learning in mice and a preliminary study of mechanism.

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Chen YB, Li J, Liu JY, Zeng LH, Wan Y, Li YR, Ren D, Guo GZ. · 2011

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EMP exposure significantly decreased associative learning in mice, with recovery by 2 days after exposure.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed male BALB/c mice to electromagnetic pulses at a peak intensity of 400 kV/m for a total of 200 pulses, then measured associative learning, oxidative stress in the brain, and serum chemistry. Associative learning was reduced significantly at 12 hours and 1 day after exposure compared with sham control, but recovered at 2 days post exposure. Lipid peroxidation and chemiluminescence intensity in brain tissue increased significantly, while activity of antioxidant enzymes decreased significantly, at 3 h, 6 h, 12 h and 1 d post EMP exposure, with all parameters recovering at 2 days. Pretreatment with TMG showed protective effects against EMP exposure.

Why This Matters

The study used a tapered parallel plate gigahertz transverse electromagnetic cell to deliver controlled EMP exposures to mice, with a concurrent sham-exposed group serving as a control. The learning impairment and the changes in brain oxidative stress markers followed the same time course, both recovering by 2 days after exposure. The researchers suggested the mechanism could involve an increase of oxidative stress in the brain caused by EMP exposure. No significant differences between the sham control group and EMP exposed group were observed in serum cholesterol and triglycerides. TMG acted as an effective protective agent from EMP exposure, according to the study's conclusions.

Exposure Details

Electric Field
400000 V/m
Source/Device
0.5 Hz

Exposure Context

This study used 400000 V/m for electric fields:

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.

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

Study Details

To investigate the effects of electromagnetic pulses (EMP) on associative learning in mice and test a preliminary mechanism for these effects.

A tapered parallel plate gigahertz transverse electromagnetic (GTEM) cell with a flared rectangular ...

(1) Twelve hour and 1 day post EMP exposure associative learning was reduced significantly compared ...

EMP exposure significantly decreased associative learning in mice and TMG acted as an effective protective agent from EMP exposure. This mechanism could involve an increase of oxidative stress in brain by EMP exposure.

Cite This Study
Chen YB, Li J, Liu JY, Zeng LH, Wan Y, Li YR, Ren D, Guo GZ. (2011). Effect of Electromagnetic Pulses (EMP) on associative learning in mice and a preliminary study of mechanism. Int J Radiat Biol. 87(12):1147-1154, 2011.
Show BibTeX
@article{yb_2011_effect_of_electromagnetic_pulses_518,
  author = {Chen YB and Li J and Liu JY and Zeng LH and Wan Y and Li YR and Ren D and Guo GZ.},
  title = {Effect of Electromagnetic Pulses (EMP) on associative learning in mice and a preliminary study of mechanism.},
  year = {2011},
  doi = {10.3109/09553002.2011.584937},
  url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/09553002.2011.584937},
}
DOI: 10.3109/09553002.2011.584937

Cited By (25 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

Researchers used electromagnetic pulses at a peak intensity of 400 kV/m, with a rise-time of 10 ns, pulse-width of 350 ns, at 0.5 Hz for a total of 200 pulses.
Associative learning was reduced significantly at 12 hours and 1 day after EMP exposure compared with sham control, but recovered at 2 days post exposure.
The activity of antioxidant enzymes including SOD, GSH, GSH-Px, and CAT decreased significantly at 3 h, 6 h, 12 h and 1 d after EMP exposure, then recovered at 2 days.
No significant differences between the sham control group and EMP exposed group were observed in serum cholesterol and triglycerides.
Pretreatment of mice with TMG showed protective effects to EMP exposure.