Abstract:Objective To explore the effects of high?frequency electromagnetic radiation exposure on the moodcognitive behaviors of mice, and to provide an experimental basis for the study on radiation damage mechanism and protection. Methods The electromagnetic reverberation chamber can produce continuous and uniform high-frequency electromagnetic waves. Different groups of ICR mice were exposed to high-frequency electromagnetic radiation in this chamber for 1 d, 3 d and 7 d, and then series of behavioral tests were conducted to observe the changes in locomotor activities, depressive-like and anxiety-like behaviors, and cognitive function of the mice. Results After exposed to the high-frequency electromagnetic radiation (3 GHz, SAR 4 W/ kg) 4 h/ d for 7 d, there was no obvious change in locomotor activity (times of grid crossing and standing up in the open field test) of the mice, while the times of entering the central region ( P < 0.05) and the time duration ( P < 0.05) were significantly decreased. Compared with the unexposed group, the percentage of the times of entering the open arm in the elevated-plus maze ( P < 0.05) and the time duration in the open arm ( P < 0.01) of the mice in the radiation group were significantly decreased. Meanwhile, the immobility time in the forced-swimming test ( P < 0.01) and the tail suspension test ( P < 0.05) of the mice exposed to electromagnetic radiation was significantly increased, and the discrimination index of new objects in the new object recognition test was significantly reduced ( P < 0.001). Conclusions Continual exposure to high-frequency electromagnetic radiation (3 GHz, SAR 4 W/ kg) can lead to anxious-depression behaviors and cognitive impairment of mice in a time-dependent manner, which provides an experimental basis for the relevant study of prevention and therapy techniques.