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The effect of Wi-Fi electromagnetic waves in unimodal and multimodal object recognition tasks in male rats

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Abstract

Wireless internet (Wi-Fi) electromagnetic waves (2.45 GHz) have widespread usage almost everywhere, especially in our homes. Considering the recent reports about some hazardous effects of Wi-Fi signals on the nervous system, this study aimed to investigate the effect of 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi radiation on multisensory integration in rats. This experimental study was done on 80 male Wistar rats that were allocated into exposure and sham groups. Wi-Fi exposure to 2.4 GHz microwaves [in Service Set Identifier mode (23.6 dBm and 3% for power and duty cycle, respectively)] was done for 30 days (12 h/day). Cross-modal visual-tactile object recognition (CMOR) task was performed by four variations of spontaneous object recognition (SOR) test including standard SOR, tactile SOR, visual SOR, and CMOR tests. A discrimination ratio was calculated to assess the preference of animal to the novel object. The expression levels of M1 and GAT1 mRNA in the hippocampus were assessed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Results demonstrated that rats in Wi-Fi exposure groups could not discriminate significantly between the novel and familiar objects in any of the standard SOR, tactile SOR, visual SOR, and CMOR tests. The expression of M1 receptors increased following Wi-Fi exposure. In conclusion, results of this study showed that chronic exposure to Wi-Fi electromagnetic waves might impair both unimodal and cross-modal encoding of information.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a grant from the Research Deputy of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physiology-Pharmacology Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, 77175-835, Rafsanjan, 7719617996, Iran

    Amin Hassanshahi, Iman Fatemi, Elham Hassanshahi, Mohammad Allahtavakoli & Ali Shamsizadeh

  2. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran

    Seyed Ali Shafeie

  3. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran

    Iman Fatemi, Mohammad Allahtavakoli & Ali Shamsizadeh

  4. Kerman Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

    Mohammad Shabani

  5. Pharmaceutical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Ali Roohbakhsh

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  1. Amin Hassanshahi
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  2. Seyed Ali Shafeie
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Correspondence to Ali Shamsizadeh.

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Hassanshahi, A., Shafeie, S.A., Fatemi, I. et al. The effect of Wi-Fi electromagnetic waves in unimodal and multimodal object recognition tasks in male rats. Neurol Sci 38, 1069–1076 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-017-2920-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-017-2920-y

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