Behavioral effects of ionizing radiations.

Abstract

The effects of high-energy radiation on pre- and neonatal development, the adult nervous system, learning and performance, and sensory functions are described. Though the number of available studies are few, there is evidence to suggest that: (1) the adult nervous system is relatively radioresistant; (2) learning functions are relatively unaffected by lethal or sublethal dosages of radiation; (3) hearing acuity and thresholds to dark adaptation increase as a result of radiation; and (4) the fetal nervous system is relatively radiosensitive. There is a need for more studies assessing the behavioral effects of radiation. 70-item bibliography.

Effects of partial-body X-radiation on learning of inbred strains of mice

“…The reason for this discrepancy is unknown. If only the Z strain had been used in experiments I and II, the conclusion would have been that no learning decrement had been pro duced by X-radiation as the experiments of many investigators have sug gested (Furchtgott, 1956)* Since these two experiments showed a strain dependency, the results did not refute the work of other investigators, instead, the importance of the genotype of animals regarding their response to X-radiation (as measured by maze learning) was demonstrated.…”

“…The analysis of variance for transformed errors per error trial scores of experiment IV (the symbols were defined in (Table 25) (Table 27) (Furchtgott, 1956)* However, there have been exceptions* Blair and Arnold (1956) reported an Increase in maze retention following cranial X-radiation»…”

“…Furchtgott (1951) X-irradiated 10 rats with 200 r. and 10 with 500 r. whole-body doses and tested them in a four-unit directional water maze* His results showed no effect upon learning or retention* In another study, Furchtgott (1952) tested brightness discrimination in rats after subjecting 25 out of 50 of them to 369 r* in one case and 11 out of 23 to U69 r* in another* The m irradiated rats were slightly inferior to controls, using grey stimulus cards with Munsel values of 2,5 to 5*0 and 2*5 to 7*0 as cues with illumi nation of 0,1 foot candle at the cue. Another study by Furchtgott (1956) involved young rats (described as adolescent) which were given 300 or 500 r. and k0 days later tested for 13 days in a straight-away tank 12 feet long» The 300 r, group and control animals were essentially the same, but animals from the 500 r, group were significantly slower swimmers, Furchtgott has concluded that X-radiation near or below the median-lethal dose has little or no behavioral effect, Arnold (1952) subjected the heads of experimental rats to 300 r. and tested for retention of a previously learned llt-unit T-maze (directional).…”

EFFECTS OF RADIATION ON THE BEHAVIOR OF ANIMALS: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE. Appendix to 1972 Progress Report.

“…Research prior to 1965 concerning radiation effects on behavior is reviewed in Furchtgott (1956Furchtgott ( , 1963 and in two symposia edited by Snider (1962, 1964). Kimeldorf and Hunt (1965) review, among other things, the effects of radiation on sensory capacities, on performance capacity, on psychological processes, and on behavioral activation.…”

“…For example, Lindsley (1962) suggests that high levels of irradiation are associated with performance decrement and low levels tend to enhance performance. According to Furchtgott (1956), the effectiveness of irradiation in changing the behavior of mammals increases with ion density. Meier (1964) supports the idea that the types and magnitudes of behavioral changes as a result of irradiation are a function of the age of the animals at exposure.…”