Specific electromagnetic radiation in the wireless signal range increases wakefulness in mice

Abstract

Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) in the environment has increased sharply in recent decades. The effect of environmental EMR on living organisms remains poorly characterized. Here, we report the impact of wireless-range EMR on the sleep architecture of mouse. Prolonged exposure to 2.4-GHz EMR modulated by 100-Hz square pulses at a nonthermal output level results in markedly increased time of wakefulness in mice. These mice display corresponding decreased time of nonrapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM). In contrast, prolonged exposure to unmodulated 2.4-GHz EMR at the same time-averaged output level has little impact on mouse sleep. These observations identify alteration of sleep architecture in mice as a specific physiological response to prolonged wireless-range EMR exposure.

Keywords: electromagnetic radiation; mouse model; public health; sleep; wireless signal.

Fig. 1.

Experimental design and radiation dosage. (A) Temporal design of the experiments. The electrodes are implanted in mice on day −14. Radiation is applied for 24 h on day 0 and continuously on days 2 through 9. With radiation off, the polysomnography is recorded in the light phase of day −1 (Pre), day 1 (Pos1), and day 9 (Pos9), each for 12 h. (B) Schematic diagram of three radiation regimens. With a carrier frequency of 2.4 GHz, EMR is given in three regimens: Pulse64W, 10-ms repeats, each with 1.25-ms radiation at an output power of 64 W (Top); Pulse8W, 10-ms repeats each with 1.25-ms radiation at an output power of 8 W (Middle); Conti8W, continuous radiation at an output power of 8 W (Bottom).

Fig. 2.

The pulsed radiation of Pulse64W significantly increases the wakefulness time in mice. (A) The Pulse64W regimen markedly increases the wakefulness time at Pos9 in mice. Shown here is the average time of wakefulness for the Control (gray) and Pulse64W (salmon) groups at Pre, Pos1, and Pos9. The error bars throughout the manuscript are SEM. (B) A scatter plot of the wakefulness for individual mouse. Each dot represents the total time of wakefulness for one mouse, and the dotted line connects the data for the same mouse. (C) Evaluation of the change of wakefulness through analysis of the REI. (D) The Pulse64W regimen decreases the average time of NREM sleep at Pos9 in mice. (E) The Pulse64W regimen decreases the average time of REM sleep at Pos9 in mice. n = 12 per group.

Fig. 3.

The pulsed radiation of Pulse8W results in statistically insignificant increase of wakefulness in mice. (A) The Pulse8W regimen results in modest increase of wakefulness at Pos9 in mice. Shown here is the average time of wakefulness at Pre, Pos1, and Pos9 for the Control (gray) and Pulse8W (light green) groups. (B) A scatter plot of the wakefulness for individual mouse. (C) The impact of the Pulse8W regimen on the NREM sleep. Shown here is the average time of NREM sleep at Pre, Pos1, and Pos9. (D) The impact of the Pulse8W regimen on the REM sleep. n = 12 per group.

Fig. 4.

Impact of the continuous radiation Conti8W on the sleep architecture of mice. (A) The Conti8W regimen shows no obvious impact on the wakefulness in mice. Shown here is the average time of wakefulness at Pre, Pos1, and Pos9 for the Control (gray) and Conti8W (light blue) groups. (B) A scatter plot of the wakefulness for individual mouse. (C) The Conti8W regimen has no obvious impact on the average time of NREM sleep. (D) The Conti8W regimen has no obvious impact on the average time for REM sleep at Pos9 in mice. n = 12 per group.

Fig. 5.

Confirmation of increased wakefulness in mice induced by the pulsed radiation of Pulse64W. (A) The Pulse64W regimen markedly increases wakefulness at Pos9 in mice of the Pulse64W-R group (light salmon) compared to the Control-R group (gray). The Pulse64W-R group of 12 mice and the Control-R group of 12 mice only have cranial electrodes in their skulls. (B) A scatter plot of the wakefulness for individual mouse. (C) Evaluation of the change of wakefulness through analysis of the REI. (D) The Pulse64W regimen results in a marked decrease of the NREM sleep at Pos9 in the Pulse64W-R group. (E) The Pulse64W regimen results in a marked decrease of the REM sleep at Pos9 in the Pulse64W-R group. n = 12 per group.