Behavioral responses of rats to acute EMP fields

To address widespread concerns on the behavioral effects of electromagnetic pulses two experiments were performed. Porsolt's forced-swimming test did not reveal any reliable differences between the immobility time of the rats that were sham-exposed or exposed to 200 EM pulses with 7 ns rise time and a peak field strength of 100 kV/m. However, rats, when given a choice, reliably preferred the side of a Plexiglas tube that was exposed to EM pulses. More research on biological and behavioral effects of EMP fields was recommended.