Effect of 2.45 GHz Electromagnetic Fields on Fear Memory Extinction in Male Rats

Abstract

Effect of 2.45 GHz Electromagnetic Fields on Fear Memory Extinction in Male Rats Dehghani Z, Mahdavi SM, Modarresi Chahardehi A, Mansouri V, Jahani Sherafat S. The Effect of 2.45 GHz Electromagnetic Fields on Fear Memory Extinction in Male Rats. J Lasers Med Sci. 2022 Nov 28;13:e52. doi: 10.34172/jlms.2022.52. Abstract Introduction: Fear memories are influenced by psychological and environmental variables. We evaluated the effect of 2.45 GHz microwave radiation on rats' fear learning and memory ability to determine the potential risks. The present study aimed to assess the impacts of corticosterone (CORT) levels on the consolidation and reconsolidation of fear conditioning memories. Methods: The rats were evaluated in contextual fear conditioning using foot shocks in both short-term (7 days) exposure and long-term (30 days) exposure. Young male Wistar rats were continually exposed to radio frequency electromagnetic field radiation for 5-6 weeks (1 h/day) with a frequency, power density, and pulse width of 2.45 GHz, 6.0 mW/cm2, and 2 ms, respectively. Several animals housed in identical conditions without exposure to radiation were monitored. Results: Based on the results, a significant increase and decrease in body weight and percentage of the freezing time were observed after the short-term group respectively. However, in the long term, we observed no significant difference in body weight, and the freezing time decreased substantially. Conclusion: As CORT levels were analyzed, long-term radiation might increase stress, which was associated with significant weight loss in rats. Open access paper: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

In the short-term exposure group, body weight significantly increased while freezing time percentage significantly decreased. In the long-term, there was no significant difference in body weight, and freezing time decreased substantially. The authors conclude that long-term radiation might increase stress based on CORT analysis and associate this with significant weight loss in rats.

Outcomes measured

• fear learning and memory (contextual fear conditioning; freezing time)
• body weight
• corticosterone (CORT) levels/stress

Limitations

• Sample size not reported in the abstract
• SAR not reported (only power density and pulse width provided)
• Exposure description includes multiple timeframes (7 days, 30 days, and 5–6 weeks) that are not fully reconciled in the abstract

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "microwave",
        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": 2450,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "1 h/day; short-term 7 days and long-term 30 days; continually exposed for 5–6 weeks"
    },
    "population": "Young male Wistar rats",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "fear learning and memory (contextual fear conditioning; freezing time)",
        "body weight",
        "corticosterone (CORT) levels/stress"
    ],
    "main_findings": "In the short-term exposure group, body weight significantly increased while freezing time percentage significantly decreased. In the long-term, there was no significant difference in body weight, and freezing time decreased substantially. The authors conclude that long-term radiation might increase stress based on CORT analysis and associate this with significant weight loss in rats.",
    "effect_direction": "mixed",
    "limitations": [
        "Sample size not reported in the abstract",
        "SAR not reported (only power density and pulse width provided)",
        "Exposure description includes multiple timeframes (7 days, 30 days, and 5–6 weeks) that are not fully reconciled in the abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "2.45 GHz",
        "microwave radiation",
        "radiofrequency electromagnetic field",
        "rats",
        "Wistar",
        "contextual fear conditioning",
        "fear memory extinction",
        "freezing time",
        "corticosterone",
        "stress",
        "body weight",
        "power density",
        "pulse width"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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