Effect of High-voltage Electrical Field Exposure on Neurobiological Factors and Visual Working Memory of Macaques

High-voltage (HV) power transmission lines running near cities and villages can cause severe damage (mental and physical) due to the magnetic and electric fields they produce. This study aimed to investigate the effects of HV electric fields on the spiking neural network (SNN) model of the brain and biological and behavioral models of visual working memory.

To achieve this goal, macaques were studied for their cognitive functions, expression of the NMDA receptor gene, MRI-assisted analysis of brain anatomy, and variations in blood sodium and potassium concentrations. The experimental group of macaques was exposed to a 3 kV/m HV field for 4 hours a day for 1 month. Computational models were then evaluated using experimental parameters.

According to the results, exposure to HV electric fields reduced the expression of the NMDA receptor gene, as well as a decrease in the levels of sodium and potassium ions in the blood plasma. Additionally, MRI-assisted analysis showed reduced hippocampus and amygdala size after exposure to the electric field.

The results of cognitive, genetic, blood, and MRI tests, along with the SNN model, elucidate the mechanism of the visual working memory deterioration in macaques due to HV electric field exposure.