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

Work in our laboratory has revealed autonomic and/or behavioral sensitivity of mice, rats, and a domestic fowl to extremely-low-frequency (ELF) or nominally static magnetic (B) fields at flux densities between 250 and 1700 microT (rms). To extend our work, an automated exposure and data-acquisition system was used with the technique of conditional suppression to assess behavioral sensitivity to time-varying B fields. Each of five rats was exposed aperiodically to a B field during 3 min warning periods that terminated in a brief electric shock. The difference between rates of lever pressing during B-field warning periods and rates during immediately antecedent, 3 min control periods was analyzed at frequencies of 7, 16, 30, 60, and 65.1 Hz. To produce equivalent induced voltages in the rat at each frequency, graded flux densities were established that ranged from 1900 microT at 7 Hz to 200 microT at 65.1 Hz. Analysis of differences in lever-pressing rates revealed that in a given session of testing the rats would increasingly suppress responding when exposed to a B field, but this trend was independent of frequency. This experiment provides evidence of behavioral sensitivity by a mammal to an ELF magnetic field.