The Effects of Microwaves on Animal Operant Behavior,
Abstract
Fleet personnel are frequently exposed to microwave irradiation produced by various weapons systems and communication devices. Microwave irradiation has been shown to cause behavioral effects in non-human animals and may cause behavioral changes in humans. In order better to generalize from animals to humans several different sized animals of different species should be used as subjects. This report summarizes the findings of behavioral experiments that are part of an interdisciplinary effort whose final goal is to document the biological effects of microwaves of animals, extrapolate these to man, and then propose exposure standards for fleet personnel. Rats, squirrel monkeys, and rhesus monkeys trained to respond on operant behavioral tasks and then exposed to microwaves produce data suggestive of a possible extrapolation to humans in similar situations. The data indicate that the behavioral effects are dependent upon an animal's reaction to thermogenous energy. Even when an animal's performance on an operant task involved relearning the task daily, the disruption of performance was still dependent upon the animal's reaction to total absorbed microwave induced heat and/or the distribution of that heat.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 25, 1982
- Accession Number
- ADA127436
Entities
People
- John O. De Lorge
Organizations
- Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory