155

Int. J. B i o m e t e o r . 1972, vol. 16, number 2, pp. 155-162

Behavioral Changes in Adult Rats Exposed to ELF

Magnetic Fields
Michael

by
A . P e r s i n g e r * , M i l o A. P e r s i n g e r * * ,
and G.B. Glavin* * *

K . P. O s s e n k o p p

E L F ( e x t r e m e l y low frequency) e l e c t r o m a g n e t i c fields and waves with intensities

s i m i l a r to and slightly l a r g e r than those which occur in nature have been shown
to be a s s o c i a t e d with changes in reaction time (Friedman, B e e k e r and Bachman,
1967; KSnig, 1962; R e i t e r , 1964), and verbal behavior (KSnig, 1962; Ludwig and
Mecke, 1968) in human subjects.
H a m s t e r s exposed to naturally o c c u r r i n g a t m o s p h e r i c s show d e c r e m e n t s in
ambulatory activity (Ludwig and Mecke, 1968). Exposure to a r t i f i c i a l fields
(1 v / m ) with c a r r i e r f r e q u e n c i e s of 10-100 kHz and 20, 10 or 5 Hz i m p u l s e s is
a s s o c i a t e d with a s i m i l a r d e c r e a s e in ambulation. Mice exposed to a t i m e - v a r y i n g
field of 1.75 Hz, and 5 Hz (40 v) also show a d e c r e a s e in ambulatory activity
(Altmann, 1969). According to Ludwig and Mecke (1968) the r e m o v a l of e i t h e r the
E or H component of the applied field is followed by an i n c r e a s e in activity the
next day.
In a s e r i e s of unpublished e x p e r i m e n t s ( P e r s i n g e r , 1967), r a t s that had been
exposed during a 368 day p e r i o d to an ELF (0.5 Hz), 3-30 gauss rotating magnetic
field (RMF), showed a marked, significant i n c r e a s e in intragroup a g g r e s s i v e
behavior, after 140 days of exposure. In two other s e p a r a t e e x p e r i m e n t s , R M F exposed adult r a t s , when r e m o v e d f r o m the field showed a significant i n c r e a s e in
open field activity and e r r o r s during Y - m a z e acquisition. Although prenatal exposure to E L F - R M F s have shown to be a s s o c i a t e d with a v a r i e t y of consequent
behavioral changes ( P e r s i n g e r , 1969, 1971; P e r s i n g e r and F o s t e r , 1970; P e r singer and P e a r , 1971), it was decided to further explore the possible b e h a v i o r a l
modifications in connection with adult " c h r o n i c " exposure to these fields. Since
in the initial studies, changes in open field behavior were observed, it was decided to r e p l i c a t e this study using controls that would m i n i m i z e p o s s i b l e exp e r i m e n t e r bias.

ME

THOD

SUBJECTS. In three e x p e r i m e n t s (Experiments I, II and III), 16, 15, and 12

male naive rats, 30, 160, and 100 days of age, r e s p e c t i v e l y , at the beginning of
the e x p e r i m e n t s were used as subjects. The subjects w e r e selected f r o m SpragueDawley, Holtzman and Wistar strains in E x p e r i m e n t s I-III r e s p e c t i v e l y .
APPARATUS. Two rotating magnetic field (RMF) apparatus w e r e used. E s s e n tially, the RMFs w e r e c r e a t e d by two h o r s e s h o e magnets rotating in opposite dir e c t i o n s about their m a j o r axes at 30 r o t / m i n (0.5 Hz). The magnets in apparatus
A, a d i a g r a m of which has been published e a r l i e r ( P e r s i n g e r and P e a r , 1971)
w e r e rotated by an e l e c t r i c motor that drove a p u l l e y - s h a f t s y s t e m to which the
magnets were attached. In apparatus B, shown in Fig. 1, each magnet was turned
by a s e p a r a t e variable speed t r a n s m i s s i o n . In E x p e r i m e n t s I-III, the m a j o r axes
*) Dept of Psychology, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.
**) R . C . B r o w n Co. Dallas, Texas, USA.
***) Dept P s y c h . , U n i v e r s i t y of Manitoba, Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada.
R e c e i v e d 22 June 1971

156

TOP VIEW

I"

30cm

"1

z--MICROMETER

NTROL

SIDE VIEW

Z/VARIABLE SPEED TRANMISSION

DRIVEN BY I/4 HP I-PHASE-60115 VOLT MOTOR

If

~-ALUMINUM
CHANNEL
VIEW 'A -A'
F i g . 1. R M F - a p p a r a t u s B. E x p o s u r e a r e a w a s b e t w e e n the two m a g n e t s .
of the m a g n e t s w e r e a l l i g n e d in a NW-SE d i r e c t i o n in M e n o m o n e e F a l l s , W i s c o n s i n ; M a d i s o n , W i s c o n s i n , and K n o x v i l l e , T e n n e s s e e , USA, r e s p e c t i v e l y , and
r o t a t e d in e i t h e r a c o u n t e r - c l o c k w i s e { E x p e r i m e n t s I-II) o r c l o c k w i s e ( E x p e r i m e n t
III) d i r e c t i o n with r e s p e c t to the NW d i r e c t i o n . The i n t e n s i t y of the R M F s (as
m e a s u r e d by a R a w s o n - L u s h G a u s s m e t e r ) in the e x p o s u r e c a g e s in w h i c h the r a t s
w e r e h o u s e d , v a r i e d f r o m 3-30 g a u s s ( a v e r a g e about 10 g a u s s ) w i t h R M F - a p p a r a t u s A to 3-50 g a u s s ( a v e r a g e about 20 g a u s s ) w i t h a p p a r a t u s B. M o r e d e t a i l s
c o n c e r n i n g the c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of t h e s e f i e l d s a r e r e p o r t e d e l s e w h e r e ( P e r s i n g e r ,
1969; O s s e n k o p p , K o l t e k and P e r s i n g e r , 1971).
O P E N F I E L D A P P A R A T U S . F o r E x p e r i m e n t s I and II, a 40 c m x 40 c m b r o w n
w o o d e n p l a n k d i v i d e d into 16 s q u a r e s w a s u s e d as the o p e n f i e l d . A 60 c m m a s o n i t e
wall p r e v e n t e d the r a t s f r o m e s c a p i n g f r o m the open f i e l d . I l l u m i n a t i o n of t h e
f i e l d w a s f u r n i s h e d by a 75-w i n c a n d e s c e n t l i g h t 100 c m a b o v e the f i e l d ' s s u r f a c e .
S i n c e the open f i e l d w a s in the s a m e r o o m a s the h o m e c a g e , the b a c k g r o u n d
s o u n d p r e s s u r e l e v e l a v e r a g e d 72 db.
F o r E x p e r i m e n t III, the w o o d e n f l o o r of a 120 e m x 120 ~ m o p e n f i e l d c o v e r e d
with w h i t e oil c l o t h w a s d i v i d e d into 16 s q u a r e s . The 50 c m high w a l l s w e r e a l s o
c o v e r e d with w h i t e oil c l o t h . I l l u m i n a t i o n w a s f u r n i s h e d b y a 2 0 - w f l u o r e s c e n t
l a m p 150 c m above the s u r f a c e of the o p e n f i e l d . S i n c e the o p e n f i e l d , in t h i s e x p e r i m e n t , w a s not in the s a m e r o o m as the R M F , the b a c k g r o u n d sound p r e s s u r e
l e v e l , s u p p l i e d by a w h i t e n o i s e g e n e r a t o r , a v e r a g e d 72 db.
P R O C E D U R E . A n i m a l s of a g i v e n c o n d i t i o n w e r e h o u s e d in g r o u p s in one of two
p l a s t i c c a g e s (27 x 50 x 30 c m ) . The c a g e s w e r e c o v e r e d w i t h w i r e m e s h t o p s and
with c a r d b o a r d on all f o u r s i d e s , so that l i g h t f r o m e a c h c a g e ' s l a m p e n t e r e d only
t h r o u g h the top. One c a g e in e a c h e x p e r i m e n t w a s p l a c e d b e t w e e n the m a g n e t s of
e i t h e r R M F a p p a r a t u s A ( E x p e r i m e n t III) o r a p p a r a t u s B ( E x p e r i m e n t s I and II).
Since the m o t o r in a p p a r a t u s A w a s s e c u r e d to a p l y w o o d b a s e and p r o d u c e d s o m e
v i b r a t i o n , the c a g e w a s p l a c e d on a p l a t f o r m 1.3 c m above and i n d e p e n d e n t of the
b a s e . The o t h e r c a g e w a s p l a c e d in the c o n t r o l a r e a 2 m f r o m the n e a r e s t m a g n e t .
Although a R a w s o n - L u s h G a u s s m e t e r s h o w e d no d e v i a t i o n at t h i s d i s t a n c e , a

157
c o m p a s s (3 c m n e e d l e ) r e g i s t e r e d a 1 - 3 c h a n g e in d e c l i n a t i o n . T h e r a t s w e r e
e x p o s e d to the e x p e r i m e n t a l (RMF and c o n t r o l ) c o n d i t i o n s in E x p e r i m e n t s I-II, on
2 J u n e 1966, 2 J a n u a r y 1967 and 13 J u n e 1969.
S a n i c e l w a s u s e d a s a b s o r b e n t m a t e r i a l in the c a g e s and w a s r e m o v e d o n c e e v e r y
f i v e d a y s in o r d e r to m i n i m i z e h a n d l i n g of s u b j e c t s . D u r i n g c l e a n i n g , t h e R M F e x p o s e d r a t s w e r e o u t of the f i e l d f o r 3 - 4 m i n . I l l u m i n a t i o n t h r o u g h o u t t h e e x p e r i m e n t s w a s c o n s t a n t and w a s f u r n i s h e d b y a 2 0 - w f l u o r e s c e n t l a m p 45 c m
a b o v e e a c h c a g e . T e m p e r a t u r e a v e r a g e d 25 + 2C, b u t did not v a r y b y m o r e
t h a n 0 . 5 C b e t w e e n the R M F and c o n t r o l cage'~ B a c k g r o u n d s o u n d p r e s s u r e l e v e l
(as m e a s u r e d b y a B and K p r e c i s i o n sound l e v e l m e t e r ) a v e r a g e 67 + 3 db in the
e x p o s u r e a r e a of R M F - a p p a r a t u s A ( f r o m the m o t o r ) and 65 + 4 db in t h e c o n t r o l
a r e a . As a c o m p a r i s o n , the b a c k g r o u n d sound p r e s s u r e l e v e l - i n the d e p a r t m e n t ' s
m a i n c o l o n y r o o m w a s 62 + 2 db. O t h e r p h y s i c a l v a r i a b l e s w e r e not r e c o r d e d .
R a t s r e c e i v e d P u r i n a food and w a t e r ad ] i b i t u m .
W h e n the s u b j e c t s h a d b e e n e x p o s e d to the R M F and c o n t r o l c o n d i t i o n s f o r 21
d a y s ( E x p e r i m e n t s I and II) o r 30 d a y s ( E x p e r i m e n t III), e a c h r a t w a s p l a c e d in a
c a r r y i n g c a g e and t a k e n to the o p e n f i e l d a t t h e o t h e r s i d e of t h e r o o m ( E x p e r i m e n t s I and II) o r in a n o t h e r r o o m . T h e l a t t e r p r o c e d u r e took 30 s e c . T h e r a t
w a s i m m e d i a t e l y p l a c e d upon one of the c o r n e r s q u a r e s of the o p e n f i e l d . T h e
n u m b e r of s q u a r e s t r a v e r s e d in 30 s e c ( E x p e r i m e n t I and II) o r 120 s e c ( E x p e r i m e n t III) w a s r e c o r d e d . At the end of the t e s t , the r a t w a s t a i l m a r k e d { E x p e r i m e n t s I and II) o r e a r - p u n c h e d ( E x p e r i m e n t III), and r e t u r n e d to t h e c a r r y i n g
c a g e . A f t e r t h e f i e l d h a d b e e n s p o n g e d w i t h 0.4% a c e t i c acid ( v i n e g a r ) the r a t w a s
t a k e n to a t e m p o r a r y g r o u p h o u s i n g f o r a g i v e n c o n d i t i o n u n t i l t h e c o m p l e t i o n of
t h e e x p e r i m e n t . At t h a t t i m e all r a t s w e r e r e t u r n e d to t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e c a g e s .
A n i m a l s w e r e a g a i n t e s t e d in the o p e n
m e n t s I and II, and 30 d a y s of e x p o s u r e
III, the a n i m a l s w e r e a g a i n t e s t e d a f t e r
r a t s i n E x p e r i m e n t III w e r e t e s t e d by a
h a d b e e n e x p o s e d to the R M F o r c o n t r o l
21:00 and 24:00 h r .

f i e l d a f t e r 25 d a y s of e x p o s u r e ( E x p e r i ( E x p e r i m e n t I, II and III). In E x p e r i m e n t
35, 40, 45, and 50 d a y s of e x p o s u r e . All
t e c h n i c i a n who did n o t k n o w w h e t h e r a r a t
conditions. Subjects were tested between

RESULTS
T h e a v e r a g e n u m b e r of s q u a r e s t r a v e r s e d in 30 s e c ( E x p e r i m e n t I and II) o r
120 s e c ( E x p e r i m e n t III) f o r R M F - e x p o s e d and c o n t r o l r a t s in the t h r e e e x p e r i m e n t s i s p r e s e n t e d in F i g . 2. In E x p e r i m e n t I, t h e R M F - e x p o s e d r a t s , a f t e r 21,
25 and 30 d a y s o f R M F e x p o s u r e , a v e r a g e d 1 0 . 3 + 2 . 4 (SD), 1 1 . 1 + 3 . 8 a n d
1 2 . 3 + 3 . 5 s q u a r e s in 30 s e c , w h i l e t h e c o n t r o l s a v e r a g e d 1 1 . 5 + ~. 4, 7 . 9 +_ 3 . 2 ,
and 6 . 8 + 9 . 1 s q u a r e s . T h i s d i f f e r e n c e w a s f o u n d by a n a l y s i s of v a r i a n c e to b e
s i g n i f i c a n t (p < 0 . 0 5 ; F = 5 . 6 8 ) . A s u m m a r y of t h e a n a l y s i s i s r e p o r t e d in T a b l e 1.
In E x p e r i m e n t II, t h e R M F - e x p o s e d a v e r a g e d 1 1 . 0 + 3 . 6 , 1 5 . 2 + 4 . 9 , and 14. 9 +
3 . 3 s q u a r e s in 30 s e c , a f t e r 21, 25 and 30 d a y s of e x p o s u r e , w h i l e the c o n t r o l
r a t s a v e r a g e d 1 1 . 8 + 5 . 3 , 6 . 1 + 3 . 9 , and 5 . 0 + 4 . 7 s q u a r e s d u r i n g t h i s t i m e .
T h i s d i f f e r e n c e w a s s i g n i f i c a n t (p < 0 . 0 1 ; F = 8 . 8 7 , T a b l e 1). In E x p e r i m e n t III,
w h e r e the r a t s w e r e r u n f o r 120 s e e in the o p e n f i e l d p e r s e s s i o n , the R M F - e x p o s e d r a t s a f t e r 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 d a y s of e x p o s u r e t r a v e r s e d 3 6 . 0 + 8 . 9 ,
32.5+13.4,
24.7+13.3,
19.2+12.0
and 1 3 . 4 + 8 . 6
s q u a r e s w h i l e the c o n t r o l s
averaged 29.1+ 13.8, 25.1+15.0,
11.6+10.2,
4 . 4 _ + 6 . 3 , and 4 . 0 + 5 . 4
squares
on t h e s e d a y s . - T h i s d i f f e r e n c e w a s f o u n d b y a n a l y s i s of v a r i a n c e to b e s i g n i f i c a n t
o n l y b e y o n d t h e 0 . 1 0 l e v e l (F = 4. 27). (In t h e a n a l y s i s of the d a t a f r o m E x p e r i m e n t III, the s q u a r e s t r a v e r s e d by e a c h g r o u p in e a c h of the 2 m i n in the o p e n
f i e l d w e r e d i f f e r e n t i a t e d , so t h a t a 2 ( t r e a t m e n t s ) x 2 (min) x 5 (days) d e s i g n w a s
used. )

158

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21
25
30
DAYS OF EXPOSURE
EXPERIMENT I

39
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15

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21
25
30
DAYS OF EXPOSURE
EXPERIMENT ]:l:

30
35
40
45
DAYS OF EXPOSURE
EXPERIMENT TrT

50

F i g . 2. A v e r a g e s q u a r e s t r a v e r s e d by R M F - e x p o s e d and c o n t r o l r a t s in
E x p e r i m e n t s I - I I I a s a f u n c t i o n of d a y s of e x p o s u r e .

159
T A B L E 1. A n a l y s i s of v a r i a n c e for the m e a n n u m b e r of s q u a r e s t r a v e r s e d by
R M F - e x p o s e d and c o n t r o l r a t s (dr = d e g r e e s - o f - f r e e d o m )
Source

MS

df

Experiment I
T r e a t m e n t (T)

74.9

E r r o r (a)

13.2

14

Days (D)

10.1

0.79

TxD

47.2

3.69

E r r o r (b)

12.8

28

5.67**

E x p e r i m e n t II
T r e a t m e n t (T)

40.7

E r r o r (a)

46.1

13

Days (D)

4.0

133.8

8.4

26

DxT
E r r o r (b)

8.87***
0.60
15.9

E x p e r i m e n t III
T r e a t m e n t (T)

730.2

E r r o r (a)

171.2

10

Days (D)

693.3

34.9

1.53

410.7

DxT
M i n u t e s (M)

4.27*
30.29***

17.94

MxT

14.5

0.63

MxD

22.7

0.99
2.46

MxTxD

56.2

E r r o r (b)

22.9

91

*) p < 0.10.
* * ) p < 0.05.
***) p < 0.01.
DISCUSSION

The r e s u l t s of the t h r e e e x p e r i m e n t s h a v e d e m o n s t r a t e d that the r e m o v a l of

m a l e r a t s which h a v e b e e n e x p o s e d to an E L F - r o t a t i n g m a g n e t i c f i e l d (RMF) f o r
21-50 days is a s s o c i a t e d with s i g n i f i c a n t i n c r e a s e s in a m b u l a t o r y b e h a v i o r . The
r e l i a b i l i t y of this e f f e c t is s u g g e s t e d s i n c e a s i m i l a r i n c r e a s e d a c t i v i t y in the
R M F - e x p o s e d group, r e l a t i v e to the c o n t r o l g r o u p , was a l s o o b s e r v e d in a diff e r e n t t e s t i n g a p p a r a t u s by another e x p e r i m e n t e r who did not know w h e t h e r a r a t
was f r o m the R M F o r c o n t r o l condition. The g r e a t e r r e l a t i v e d e c r e a s e in a c t i v i t y

160
of the control groups in the t h r e e e x p e r i m e n t s , following the f i r s t day of testing,
also implies the consistency of the effect.
The r e s u l t s are compatable with p r e v i o u s l y r e p o r t e d e x p e r i m e n t s using different
apparatus, intensities and wave form. A~tmann (1969) and Ludwig and Mecke
(1968) found that ELF fields w e r e associated with a d e c r e a s e in activity. Removal
of the applied fields might, t h e r e f o r e , be expected to produce a " c o m p e n s a t o r y "
i n c r e a s e ("rebound") in activity. Ludwig and Mecke (1968) do indicate that r e moval of the ELF field used in their study was followed by an i n c r e a s e in activity,
although it o c c u r r e d on the following day.
Such an i n c r e a s e of ambulatory activity following r e m o v a l f r o m the E L F - R M F
could account for the i n c r e a s e d e r r o r s ( P e r s i n g e r , 1967) displayed by the R M F exposed animals during Y - m a z e acquisition, as noted e a r l i e r . " S c a m p e r i n g " or
i n c r e a s e d ambulator behavior as the animal approached the maze a r m s might int e r f e r e with alley d i s c r i m i n a t i o n . P e r s i n g e r (1967) indeed r e p o r t e d that the
R M F - e x p o s e d r a t s left the s t a r t box and ran down the alley " f a s t e r " than the control animals. This behavior could be i n t e r p r e t e d as being a s s o c i a t e d with the
RMF-exposed
rats' relatively "less" habituation to testing situations. Thus,
while the control rats were displaying less activity in the open field and fewer
errors in the maze over test days, the RMF-exposed
rats continued to exhibit
behaviors associated with initial exposures to the test situation. In this context,
it could be argued that the RMF was interfering with the physico-chemical processes associated with what has been termed "memory".
Possible physiological
correlates of RMF-exposure
have been noted in another paper (Persinger, Glavin
and Ossenkopp, 1972).
Despite the consistency of the open field results, considerable within group
variability was observed since such tests are influenced by a multitude of uncontrolled environmental variables. It is strongly suggested by the experimenters
that further research concerned with the effects of ELF magnetic fields (as well
as other environmental variables), upon behavior incorporate the use of more
precise operant techniques. These techniques utilize the basic reinforcement
schedules (Ferster and Skinner, 1957) that control behavior. Operant techniques
afford greater stimulus control, and minimize participation of the experimenter
and experimenter error (Sidman, 1960). In addition, operant procedures have
been shown to differentiate the behavioral effects of prenatal exposure to ELFmagnetic fields (Persinger and Foster, 1970; Persinger and Pear, 1971), which
were not shown in other testing situations.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This research was completed at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and the
University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The authors thank Professors Robert E.
Bowman,
University of Wisconsin, and Ernest Furchtgott, University of Tennessee, for sponsoring the research. Thanks also to Prof. D.W. Dunlop, Dr
Gerry Harding, Raul DeLuna, Everett Magagnos, William S. Foster IV, Mac A.
Thompson,
Violet Knight Persinger, Viola H. Glavin, and Karyn Y. Fowler for
their technical assistance.

161
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G. (1969)

: Die physiologische Wirkung elektrischer Felder auf

Organismen. Arch. Meteor. Geoph. Bioklim. B,
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B.F. (1957): Schedules of Reinforcement.
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R.O. and BACHMAN,
C.H. (1967): Effect of magFRIEDMAN,
netic fields on reaction time performance.
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KONIG, H.L. (1962)
: Uber den Einfluss besonders niederfrequenter elektrischer Vorgtnge in der Atmosphtre
auf die Umwelt.
Z. angew. Bader-u.
Klimahei]k., 9:481-501.
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W. and MECKE,
R. (1968): Wirkung kiinstlicher Atmospherics auf
Stinger. Arch. Meteor. Geoph. Bioklim. B, 16 :
251-261.
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K.P., KOLTEK,
T. and PERSINGER,
M.A. (1972): Prenatal exposure to an ELF-low
intensity rotating magnetic
field and increases in thyroid and testicle weight in
rats. Develop. Psychobiol. (in press).
PERSINGER,
M.A. (1971) : Prenatal exposure to an ELF Rotating Magnetic field,
ambulatory behavior and lunar distance at birth: A
Correlation. Psychol. Rep., 28 : 435-438.
PERSINGER,
M.A., GLAVIN,
G.B. and OSSENKOPP,
K.P. (1972): Physiological changes in adult rats exposed to an ELF rotating
magnetic field. Int. J. Biometeor., 16 : 163-172.
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M.A. and PEAR,
J.J. (1972): Prenatal exposure to an ELFrotating magnetic field and subsequent increase in
conditioned suppression. Develop. Psychobiol.,
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M.A. and FOSTER,
IV, W.S. (1970): ELF rotating magnetic fields:
prenatal exposure and adult behavior. Arch. Meteor.
Geoph. Bioklim. B, 18 : 363-369.
PERSINGER, M.A. (1969) :Open-field behavior in r a t s exposed p r e n a t a l l y to a
low intensity - low frequency, rotating magnetic
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A B S T R A C T . - In two e x p e r i m e n t s , male r a t s that had been exposed to an E L F

(0.5 Hz), 3-50 gauss rotating magnetic field (RMF) for 21-30 days, displayed
significantly (p < 0.05) g r e a t e r ambulatory behavior (activity) than the control
group in an open field test, when r e m o v e d f r o m the RMF. In a third e x p e r i m e n t
r a t s were exposed to a different RMF apparatus (3-30 gauss), and tested in a
different open field for longer duration. Again the R M F - e x p o s e d group displayed
g r e a t e r activity (p < 0.10) than the control group.

162

ZUSAMMENFASSUNG.
- In zwei Untersuchungen
zeigten m~nnliche Ratten,die
einem ELF (0, 5 Hz) 3-50 Gauss rotierenden magnetischen
Feld (RMF) filr 21-30
Tage ausgesetzt wurden, in einem Open-Field Test signifikant (p < 0, 05) mehr
Bewegungsaktivit~t
als die Kontrollgruppe,nachdem
sie yon dem RMF
entfernt
wurden. In einer dritten Untersuchung
wurden Ratten in einem anderen RMF
Ger~t gehalten und in einem anderen
Open-Field fiir lfingere Zeit getestet. Wieder
zeigte die Gruppe, die dem RMF
ausgesetzt war, mehr Bewegungsaktivit~it
(p < 0, i0)als die Kontrollgruppe.

R E S U M E . - L o r s de deux e s s a i s , on a p l a c 6 d e s r a t s m a l e s d a n s un c h a m p m a g n 6 t i q a e t o u r n a n t (CMT) de 3 h 50 g a u s s et d e s t r ~ s b a s s e f r ~ q u e n c e (FTB) (0, 5 Hz).

A p r ~ s 21 h 30 j o u r s de c e t r a i t e m e n t , on l e s a r e m i s d a n s d e s c o n d i t i o n s n o r m a l e s . L e u r a c t i v i t 6 ( m a r c h e ) 6 t a i t p l u s 61ev6e que c e l l e d ' u n g r o u p e de contr61e et
c e l a de faon s i g n i f i c a t i v e (p < 0, 05). D a n s un t r o i s i ~ m e e s s a i , d ' a u t r e s r a t s f u r e n t p l a c 6 s d a n s un a u t r e a p p a r e i l (3 h 30 g a u s s ) et e x a m i n 6 s e n s u i t e d a n s un
a u t r e c h a m p o u v e r t s u r une p l u s longue p 6 r i o d e . Le g r o u p e t r a i t ~ a d~ploy6 d a n s
c e c a s 6 g a l e m e n t une p l u s g r a n d e a c t i v i t 6 qu'un g r o u p e de c o n t r b l e (p < 0, 10).