Spatial memory performance of Wistar rats exposed to mobile phone.

Sareesh Naduvil Narayanan*, Raju Suresh Kumar, Bhagath Kumar Potu, Satheesha Nayak, Maneesh Mailankot

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

80 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: With the tremendous increase in number of mobile phone users world wide, the possible risks of this technology have become a serious concern. OBJECTIVE: We tested the effects of mobile phone exposure on spatial memory performance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Wistar rats (10-12 weeks old) were exposed to 50 missed calls/day for 4 weeks from a GSM (900/1800 MHz) mobile phone in vibratory mode (no ring tone). After the experimental period, the animals were tested for spatial memory performance using the Morris water maze test. RESULTS: Both phone exposed and control animals showed a significant decrease in escape time with training. Phone exposed animals had significantly (approximately 3 times) higher mean latency to reach the target quadrant and spent significantly (approximately 2 times) less time in the target quadrant than age- and sex-matched controls. CONCLUSION: Mobile phone exposure affected the acquisition of learned responses in Wistar rats. This in turn points to the poor spatial navigation and the object place configurations of the phone-exposed animals.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)231-234
Number of pages4
JournalClinics (São Paulo, Brazil)
Volume64
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - 01-12-2009

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Medicine

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