Effects of exposure to 30 kV/m, 60‐Hz electric fields on the social behavior of baboons

Easley

1995

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Our previous research has demonstrated that 30 or 60 kV/m electric fields (EF) reliably produce temporary increases in the performance of three categories of baboon social behavior: Passive Affinity, Tension, and Stereotypy. The experimental design included 6 week preexposure, exposure, and postexposure periods with experimental and control groups, each with eight subjects. Here, we report two experiments that evaluated the effects of combined EF and magnetic fields (MF) on baboon social behavior. One experiment demonstrated that exposure to 6 kV/m EF and 50 microT (0.5 G) MF produced Period x Group interactions for Stereotypy and Attack, but the previously observed increases in Passive Affinity, Tension, and Stereotypy did not occur. A second experiment demonstrated that exposure to 30 kV/m EF and 100 microT 1.0 G MF did not produce the same magnitude of increases in Passive Affinity, Tension, and Stereotypy observed previously with 30 kV/m EF alone. The exposed group exhibited decreased performance rates for several behavior categories during exposure with further declines during postexposure. The control group showed fewer downward trends across periods.

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Effects of concurrent exposure to 60 Hz electric and magnetic fields on the social behavior of baboons

Coelho

Easley

1995

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“…Two full-time observers, who were blind to the exposure schedule and group assignments, used a coritinuous, focal animal technique [Coelho and Bramblett, 1981~1 to sample each animal each day. See Coelho et al [1991] for additional details.…”

Section: Data Acquisitionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The facility was described by Coelho et al [1991]. In addition, a detailed description of the exposure facility, its operating characteristics, and electric field quality control is presented by Cory et al [1987] and Rogers et al (ms submitted).…”

Section: Facility Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of exposure to a 60‐kV/m, 60‐Hz electric field on the social behavior of baboons

Coelho

Easley

1991

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We found in a previously reported study that exposure to a 30-kV/m, 60-Hz electric field had significant effects on the social behavior of baboons. However, it was not established whether or not the effects were related specifically to the 30-kV/m intensity of the field. A new experiment was conducted to determine whether or not exposure to a 60-Hz electric field at 60 kV/m would produce like changes in the baboons' social behavior. We exposed one group of eight male baboons to an electric field 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, for 6 weeks. A second group of eight animals was maintained under sham-exposure (control) conditions. Rates of performing on each of six categories of social behavior and on four categories of nonsocial behavior were used as criteria for comparing exposed with unexposed subjects and for within-group comparisons during three six-week experimental periods: Pre-Exposure, Exposure, and Post-Exposure. The results indicate that (1) during the exposure period, exposed animals exhibited statistically significant differences from controls in means of performance rates based on several behavioral categories; (2) across all three periods, within-group comparisons revealed that behaviors of exposed baboons were significantly affected by exposure to the electric field; (3) changes in performance levels probably reflect a stress response to the electric field; and (4) the means of response rates of animals exposed at 60 kV/m were higher, but not double, those of animals exposed at 30 kV/m. As in the 30-kV/m experiment, animals exposed at 60 kV/m exhibited significant differences in performances of Passive Affinity, Tension, and Stereotypy. Mean rates of performing these categories were 122% (Passive Affinity), 48% (Tension), and 40% (Stereotypy) higher in the exposed group than in the control group during exposure to the 60-kV/m field.

“…Rogers et al [ 1995bl report that initial exposure to a 30 Alternative Explanations for These Results kV/m or 60 kV/m EF produces only a transitory interruption of operant performance. Coelho et al [1990] and The same set of six subjects was used throughout Easley et al-[199111992] describe temporary alterations these experiments. It could be argued that potential carry-in some categories of social behavior that accompany over effects across experiments might have produced initiation of exposure to a 30 kV/m or 60 kV/m EF.…”

Section: Consistency With Other Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nonhuman primates will not respond to turn off strong 60 Hz electric fields

Orr

Smith

1995

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Using a set of six baboons (Papio cynocephalus), we conducted a series of seven experiments designed to evaluate the potentially aversive character of a 60 Hz electric field (EF). Initially, the subjects were trained, using food rewards as the reinforcer, to respond only when a cue light was illuminated. Next, an EF was presented along with the cue light; responses produced delivery of a food pellet and turned off both the cue light and the EF. Then, stimulus and reward conditions were varied. We determined that 1) presence of a strong EF does not affect operant responding for food rewards, 2) subjects will not respond at normal rates when the only reinforcer is termination of a strong EF, 3) presence of a strong EF can serve as a discriminative stimulus, 4) presence of a strong EF does not affect extinction of an appetite-motivated task, and 5) presentation of an EF can become a secondary reinforcer. The pattern of results was consistent across all experiments, suggesting that an EF of as much 65 kV/m is not aversive to nonhuman primates. Separately, we demonstrated that the average EF detection threshold for baboons in 12 kV/m. Thus, EF exposure at intensities well above the detection threshold and at species-scaled EF strengths greater than those found environmentally does not appear to be aversive.