Ubiquitous extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields induces anxiety-like behavior: mechanistic perspectives

Anxiety is an adaptive condition characterized by heightened uneasiness, which in the long term can cause complications such as reducing the quality of life and problems related to the mental and physical health. Concerns have been raised regarding the potential dangers of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) ranging from 3 to 3000 Hz, which are omnipresent in our daily lives and there have been studies about the anxiogenic effects of these fields. Studies conducted in this specific area has revealed that ELF-EMF can have an impact on various brain regions, such as the hippocampus. In conclusion, studies have shown that ELF-EMF can interfere with hippocampus-prefrontal cortex pathway, inducing anxiety behavior. Also, ELF-EMF may initiate anxiety behavior by generating oxidative stress in hypothalamus and hippocampus. Moreover, ELF-EMF may induce anxiety behavior by reducing hippocampus neuroplasticity and increasing the NMDA2A receptor expression in the hippocampus. Furthermore, supplementation with antioxidants could serve as an effective protective measure against the adverse effects of FLF-FMF in relation to anxiety behavior. In the modern world, the use of electric devices is inevitable and our living environment is full of these devices that create waves called electromagnetic fields. A group of these waves have extremely low frequencies, and many researches have been done on their effects on the behavior of laboratory animals such as rats and mice. Many of these studies indicate that these types of waves are anxiogenic, and a number of human studies also confirm this effect. In this study, we decided to search for the possible mechanisms behind this effect. Our review of the studies conducted in this field determined that the main effect of extremely low frequency fields which can have on different parts of the brain, causing anxiety behavior, is oxidative stress. Of course, studies show that the use of antioxidants, can prevent the oxidative effects of this type of waves.