Behavioral sensitivity of rats to extremely-low-frequency magnetic fields

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Bioelectromagnetics
• Animal Behavior

Background:

• Previous research indicated autonomic and behavioral sensitivity in rodents and fowl to static and ELF magnetic fields.
• Existing studies focused on specific flux densities, necessitating further investigation into time-varying fields.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess mammalian behavioral sensitivity to time-varying extremely-low-frequency (ELF) magnetic fields.
• To extend previous findings on magnetic field sensitivity to a broader range of frequencies and exposure conditions.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an automated exposure and data-acquisition system with conditional suppression technique.
• Five rats were aperiodically exposed to ELF magnetic fields during warning periods preceding electric shocks.
• Behavioral responses (lever pressing rates) were analyzed at frequencies from 7 Hz to 65.1 Hz with equivalent induced voltages.

Main Results:

• Rats demonstrated a progressive suppression of lever-pressing behavior during magnetic field exposure within a testing session.
• This behavioral suppression trend was observed to be independent of the tested ELF magnetic field frequencies.
• The findings indicate a clear behavioral response to ELF magnetic fields in mammals.

Conclusions:

• This study provides evidence for behavioral sensitivity in mammals to extremely-low-frequency (ELF) magnetic fields.
• The results suggest that mammals can detect and respond behaviorally to ELF magnetic fields, irrespective of frequency variations within the tested range.