Behavioral testing of mice exposed to intermediate frequency magnetic fields indicates mild memory impairment

Abstract

Overview

Human exposure to intermediate frequency magnetic fields (MF) is increasing, largely driven by modern technology applications. However, the effects on health remain unclear.

Findings

This study investigated how 7.5 kHz MF exposure affects mice, using behavioral tests and histopathological analysis over a 5-week exposure at 12 or 120 µT levels. Key observations include:

• No significant changes in body weight, spontaneous activity, motor coordination, anxiety levels, or aggression.
• In the Morris swim task, mice exposed to 120 µT did not learn as efficiently as other groups but performed similarly in the probe test, indicating no change in search bias.
• Significant memory impairments were detected in the passive avoidance task over 48 hours in the 120 µT group.
• No changes were noted in neurogenesis or astroglial activation in the hippocampus.
• The expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha increased significantly, suggesting a potential inflammatory response in the hippocampus at higher MF exposures.

Conclusion

Exposure to 7.5 kHz MF at increased levels may lead to mild learning and memory impairments in mice, potentially through inflammatory pathways in the brain. These findings raise concerns about the broader implications of intermediate frequency MFs on health.