This research paper looks at the effect of mobile phones on both the behaviour and on the structure of the hippocampus in rats. The hippocampus is an important section of the brain crucial to memory and spatial navigation.

Abstract

Introduction.
The interaction of mobile phone radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) with the brain is a seriousconcern of our society.

Objective.
We evaluated the effect of RF-EMR from mobile phones on passive avoidance behaviour and hippocampal
morphology in rats.

Materials and methods.
Healthy male albino Wistar rats were exposed to RF-EMR by giving 50 missed calls (within 1 hour) per
day for 4 weeks, keeping a GSM (0.9 GHz/1.8 GHz) mobile phone in vibratory mode (no ring tone) in the cage. After the experimental period, passive avoidance behaviour and hippocampal morphology were studied.

Results.
Passive avoidance behaviour was significantly affected in mobile phone RF-EMR-exposed rats demonstrated as shorter entrance latency to the dark compartment when compared to the control rats. Marked morphological changes were also observed in the CA3 region of the hippocampus of the mobile phone-exposed rats in comparison to the control rats.

Conclusion.
Mobile phone RF-EMR exposure significantly altered the passive avoidance behaviour and hippocampal
morphology in rats.

For the full research paper.

First Published in Jnury 2010

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