Acute Effect of Exposure of Mollusk Single Neuron to 900-MHz Mobile Phone Radiation

Abstract

The goal of the present work was to explore the influence of commercially available cell phone irradiation on the single neuron excitability and memory processes. A Transverse Electromagnetic Cell (TEM Cell) was used to expose single neurons of mollusk to the electromagnetic field.

Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) method was used for modeling the TEM Cell and the electromagnetic field interactions with living nerve ganglion and neurons. Neuron electrophysiology was investigated using standard microelectrode technique.

The specific absorption rate (SAR) deposited into the single neuron was calculated to be 0.63 W/kg with a temperature increment of 0.1°C. After acute exposure, average firing threshold of the action potentials was not changed. However, the average latent period was significantly decreased. This indicates that together with latent period the threshold and the time of habituation might be altered during exposure. However, these alterations are transient and only latent period remains on the changed level.

Keywords::

• Electromagnetic field
• Neuron
• Habituation

Acknowledgements

The work is supported by a grant from the Shota Rustaveli NSF # ST09_80_6_274.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.