The low frequency electromagnetic field on the rat EEG

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to find out the effects of low frequency electromagnetic field (EMF) 50 Hz - 10 mT on the rat electroencephalogram (EEG) recorded from the rat brain cortex and from the skull surface. The rats were, whole body, exposed to this EMF intensity one hour daily for 7 days. Recovery study was done after one week from stopping the EMF exposure. The effects of the filed were estimated by compression of the averaged EEG frequency spectra in the range of frequencies between 0.2 - 0.7 Hz and by comparison of amplitude of EEG waves in control, exposed to EMF and recovery animals. Statistically significant effects of EMF were observed both in EEG amplitude and power reduction at most EEG frequencies. Also, noticeable variations were observed in normal values of maximum amplitude and number of successive EEG epochs recorded from brain and skull surfaces after exposure to ELF magnetic fields. These results show that a weak low EMF can influence the spontaneous electrical rat brain activity in the animals subjected to the EMF.