# RF-029 — Temporal-order memory after 55 weeks of weekly exposure

Why this matters
Remembering the order of events is a specific mental function. Exposed rats performed less well on an object-order task after a long exposure programme, although other tests were unchanged. Tissue examination of the same animals did not demonstrate neuronal injury, so the behavioural finding needs its own explanation.

Id: RF-029

Author: Nittby et al.

Full Authors: Henrietta Nittby; Gustav Grafström; Dong Ping Tian; Lars Malmgren; Arne Brun; Bertil R. R. Persson; Leif G. Salford; Jacob Eberhardt

Year: 2008

Title: Cognitive impairment in rats after long-term exposure to GSM-900 mobile phone radiation

Journal: Bioelectromagnetics

Citation: Nittby H, Grafström G, Tian DP, Malmgren L, Brun A, Persson BRR, Salford LG, Eberhardt J. Cognitive impairment in rats after long-term exposure to GSM-900 mobile phone radiation. Bioelectromagnetics. 2008;29(3):219-232. doi:10.1002/bem.20386. Online 28 November 2007.

Doi: 10.1002/bem.20386

Pmid: 18044737

Topic: Animal cognition

Verification Group: Original abstract verified

Record Role: Original abstract verified

Featured: False

Exposure: GSM-900, 2 h once weekly for 55 weeks; whole-body SAR initially 0.6 and 60 mW/kg, declining with growth (companion methods: approximately 0.4 and 40 mW/kg at end).

Design: 56 Fischer 344 rats: 16 in each active group, 16 sham, 8 cage controls. Companion original methods describe randomized groups, equal sexes, 4-6 months old at start; behavioral testing 3-7 weeks after exposure; 54 survived to testing/pathology.

Finding: Original abstract reports poorer memory for objects and their temporal presentation order in exposed rats versus sham (p=0.02). Open-field behavior and memory of object location did not differ.

Boundary: Cognitive article abstract verified; exposure/design linkage checked in original companion methods. Same animals as CTX-005, not an independent replication. Companion notes cage controls performed even worse than exposed rats, indicating handling/experience matters. Histological injury was not demonstrated in these animals.

Related: Same 56-rat experiment as CTX-005; journal year 2008, online year 2007.

Protection Question: Why did object-order memory differ without demonstrated neuronal injury in the same animals? Handling and test experience complicate interpretation, leaving the functional observation separate from a claim of brain-cell loss.

Access: Original abstract; original full companion article reviewed

Locator: Original abstract; companion Grafström 2008 GSM exposure/Animals and Individual correlation sections

Notice: Scite metadata checked 20 Oct 2026; no editorial notice returned. Primary bibliographic records and targeted notices were checked where retrievable; no retraction or expression of concern located. This is not certification that no notice exists.

Funding: Not established in retrieved cognitive abstract/companion indexed body.

Conflicts: Not established in retrieved cognitive abstract/companion indexed body.

Source Url: https://doi.org/10.1002/bem.20386

Retrieval Links: https://doi.org/10.1002/bem.20386 | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18044737/ | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainresbull.2008.08.004

Verification Date: 2026-10-20