Behavioral detection of 60-Hz electric fields by rats

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Bioelectromagnetics (N.Y.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/bem.2250040304· OSTI ID:6914083

Stern, S; Laties, V G; Stancampiano, C V; Cox, C; de Lorge, J O

Rats partially deprived of food were trained individually to press a lever in the presence of a vertical, 60-Hz electric field and not to press in its absence. Correct detections that occurred during brief, 3- or 4-s trials occasionally produced a food pellet. The probability of detecting the field was found to increase as field strength increased. The threshold of detection, ie, the field strength required for detections at a probability of 0.5 after correction for errors, was generally between 4 and 10 kV/m. The range of field strengths between almost zero and almost 100% correctness of detection was approximately 8 kV/m. A logistic function provided a good description of the increase in the detection probability with increasing field strength. These performances occurred reliably in 19 rats, some of which were studied for 2 years. Control procedures showed that the behavior required that the rat be in the electric field; the behavior was not controlled by any of several potentially confounding variables.

• OSTI ID: 6914083
• Journal Information: Bioelectromagnetics (N.Y.); (United States), Journal Name: Bioelectromagnetics (N.Y.); (United States) Vol. 4:3; ISSN BLCTD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560400* -- Other Environmental Pollutant Effects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
BEHAVIOR
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
FREQUENCY RANGE
HZ RANGE
MAMMALS
RATS
RODENTS
VERTEBRATES