Photos from the 2003 East Tennessee Collegiate Division Meeting of the Tennessee Academy of Science held at Pellissippi State Technical Community College
4/11/2003
Marquita Porter, Maryville College
ABSTRACT
An Observation of Effects of Electromagnetic Fields on Cognition in Lab Mice
This paper focuses on the effects of a magnetic field that is three times the strength of the earth's magnetic filed, on the cognition in mice. Mice were placed in an electromagnetic field that was created by two amplitudes of currents for specific amounts of time. Prior to exposure to the magnetic field, mice were given two preliminary runs of the radially armed maze. The median time for completion of the maze for the mice in the preliminary runs was 83.29 seconds. The control group experienced no magnetic field exposure. Group two experienced fifteen minutes of exposure. Group three experienced thirty minutes of exposure, and group four experienced thirty minutes of exposure, with a thirty-minute rest period. After exposure, mice were timed to judge their ability to run the maze. Results show that with each of the three exposures to the field, the time for completion of the maze, as well as confusion and mistakes increased. However, in the control group, as well as group four, which received a rest period, times decreased with each trial. This leads to the conclusion that cognition is negatively affected by a magnetic field that is three times the strength of the earth's, after direct exposure. But, when a rest period is received, cognition is returned to normal.
