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The Journal of Neuroscience, February 15, 2003, 23(4):1498

Behavioral Effects of High-Strength Static Magnetic Fields on Rats

Thomas A. Houpt¹, David W. Pittman², Jan M. Barranco¹, Erin H. Brooks², and James C. Smith²

Departments of ¹ Biological Science and ² Psychology, Program in Neuroscience, The Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306

Advances in magnetic resonance imaging are driving the development of more powerful and higher-resolution machines with high-strength static magnetic fields. The behavioral effects of high-strength magnetic fields are largely uncharacterized, although restraint within a 9.4 T magnetic field is sufficient to induce a conditioned taste aversion (CTA) and induce brainstem expression of c-Fos in rats. To determine whether the behavioral effects of static magnetic fields are dependent on field strength, duration of exposure, and orientation with the field, rats were restrained within the bore of 7 or 14 T superconducting magnets for variable durations. Behavioral effects were assessed by scoring locomotor activity after release from the magnetic field and measuring CTA acquisition after pairing intake of a palatable glucose and saccharin (G+S) solution with magnetic field exposure. Magnetic field exposure at either 7 or 14 T suppressed rearing and induced tight circling. The direction of the circling was dependent on the rat's orientation within the magnetic field: if exposed head-up, rats circled counterclockwise; if exposed head-down, rats circled clockwise. CTA was induced after three pairings of taste and 30 min of 7 T exposure or after a single pairing of G+S and 1 min of 14 T exposure. These results suggest that magnetic field exposure has graded effects on rat behavior. We hypothesize that restraint with high-strength magnetic fields causes vestibular stimulation resulting in locomotor circling and CTA acquisition.

Key words: conditioned taste aversion; vestibular; circling; rearing; magnetic resonance imaging; magnet

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Copyright © 2003 Society for Neuroscience  0270-6474/03/2341498-08$05.00/0

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. M. Cason, M. DenBleyker, K. Ferrence, J. C. Smith, and T. A. Houpt Sex and estrous cycle differences in the behavioral effects of high-strength static magnetic fields: role of ovarian steroids Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, March 1, 2006; 290(3): R659 - R667. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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