Exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields improves social recognition in male rats

• Published in: Physiology & behavior Vol. 82; no. 4; pp. 685 - 690
• Main Authors: Vázquez-Garcı́a, Mario, Elı́as-Viñas, David, Reyes-Guerrero, Gloria, Domı́nguez-González, Alejandro, Verdugo-Dı́az, Leticia, Guevara-Guzmán, Rosalinda
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Elsevier Inc 30.09.2004; New York, NY Elsevier
• Subjects: 60 Hz; Animals; Behavioral psychophysiology; Biological and medical sciences; Electromagnetic Fields; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Learning; Male; Miscellaneous; Motor Activity - radiation effects; Olfactory memory; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Recognition (Psychology) - radiation effects; Short-term memory; Social Behavior; Learning; Olfactory memory; Social behavior; Short-term memory; 60 Hz; Short term; Rat; Intraspecific relation; Memory; Rodentia; Electromagnetic; Male; Low frequency; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Social interaction; Animal; Individual recognition; Magnetic field
• ISSN: 0031-9384; 1873-507X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2004.06.004

The effect of exposure to low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF EMFs) on social recognition was studied. The test was based upon a comparison between two encounters of an adult rat and a conspecific juvenile, separated by an interexposure interval (IEI). The exposure to ELF EMF of 1 mT intensity during 2 h for 9 days increased the duration of short-term memory of adult male Wistar rats up to 300 min. These data indicate, for the first time, that ELF EMF improves social recognition memory in rats.