The Effect of Low Energy, Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) Electromagnetic Radiation on Operant Behavior in the Pigeon and the Rat.

Abstract

Extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic fields at 45, 60, and 75 Hz, up to 2 Gauss and 100 Volts/meter were explored for possible effects on operant behavior of pigeons and rats. No reliable effects were seen on a temporal discrimination procedure in which pigeons had to respond differentially depending upon the duration of a stimulus. Detection was explored in both pigeons and rats by attempting to use ELF fields as discriminative or conditioned stimuli. No reliable indication of detection was found in either species. This result was further confirmed by a preference procedure using pigeons, the results of which indicated that ELF signals at the parameters studied had no reliable reinforcing or punishing properties. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 28, 1973
Accession Number
AD0759415

Entities

People

  • C. P. Burns
  • M. J. Marr
  • W. K. Rivers

Organizations

  • Georgia Tech

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Detection
  • Discrimination
  • Electromagnetic Fields
  • Electromagnetic Radiation
  • Extremely Low Frequency
  • Frequency
  • Frequency Bands
  • Radiation

Fields of Study

  • Biology
  • Psychology

Readers

  • Neuroscience
  • Organizational Psychology.
  • Plasma Physics / Magnetohydrodynamics