Effects of millimeter wavelength electromagnetic radiation on neurons: Electrophysiological study

Effects of millimeter wavelength (MM) radiation (61.22 and 75.00 GHz) on sp ontaneous firing frequency of Lymnae stagnalis pacemaker neurons has been s tudied. MM exposure has been found to produce biphasic changes in the firin g frequency. When initiated, exposure produced short-term deep inhibition, followed by a slower increase in the firing frequency. The rate of the temp erature increase plays an important part in the development of the response . The model based on membrane potential regulation by two different systems functioning at different rates and at opposite directions agrees well with experimental data on changes in the firing under exposure. The results obt ained suggest that MM radiation exposure at the power,er used in treatment can activate thermoreceptors and other temperature-sensitive nerve endings located in superficial skin layers.