Abstract
When submitted to a single avoidance task male mice showed different behavioral responses if previously treated with opposite aeroionization polarities. Whereas negative air ions tend to improve learning, positive ions have disturbing effects. Male rats submitted to a single — trial inhibitory avoidance step-through task showed that retention processes may also be influenced by air ions. The positive air-ion-treated animals exhibit signs of impaired short and long term memory. The slightly impaired score of negative air-ion-treated animals seems only dependent upon the simultaneously increased locomotor activity. A separate experiment supported this hypothesis showing conspicuous differential effects of air ion polarity on spontaneous activity of male rats. On the basis of these findings and the results of other studies in biological air ion dependence field, the behavioral significance of aero-ionization in learning and memory processes is discussed in relation to serotonin metabolism and other neuroendocrine mechanisms.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
ALBRECHTSEN, O., CLAUSEN, V., CHRISTENSEN, F. G., JENSEN, J. G. and MØLLER, T. (1978): The influence of small atmospheric ions on human wellbeing and mental performance. Int. J. Biometeor., 22: 249–262.
BACHMAN, C. H., McDONALD, R. D. and LORENZ, P. J. (1966): Some effects of air ions on the activity of rats. Int. J. Biometeor., 10: 39–46.
BACKMAN, C. M. (1979): Small air ions in occupational environment. Nature, occurence and importance. (In Swedish). Rep. from Research Institute of Electricity, Upsala Univ., 123 pp.
BARTENDU, I. A. and MENON, I. A. (1978): Effects of atmospheric small negative ions on the oxigen consumption of mouse liver cells. Int. J. Biometeor., 22: 43–52.
DUFFEE, R. A. and KOONTZ, R. H. (1965): Behavioral effects of ionized air on rats. Psychophysiology, 1: 347–359.
FALKENBERG, V. and KIRK, R. E. (1977): Effects of ionized air on early acquisition of Sidman avoidance behavior by rats. Psychol. Rep., 41: 1071–1074.
GARFIELD, E. (1979): Do air ions affect our lives and health? Cur. Contents, 22: June 4, 5–11.
GILBERT, G. O. (1973): Effects of negative air ions upon emotionality and brain serotonin level in isolated rats. Int. J. Biometeor., 17: 267–275.
HAWKINS, L. A. and BARKER, T. (1978): Air ions and human performance. Ergonomics, 21: 273–278.
HOLAK, H., BALDYS, A., JARZAB, B., WYSTRYCHOWSKI, A. and SKRZYPEK, J. (1978): Changes in serum TSH level after intraventricular injections of various neuromedi ators in rats. Acta Endocr., 87: 279–282.
JARVIK, M. E. and KOOP, R. (1967): An improved l-trial passive avoidance learning. Psyschol. Rep., 21: 221–224.
KELLOGG, E. W., YOST, M. G., BARTHAKUR, N. and KRUEGER, A. P. (1979): Superoxide involvement in the bactericidal effect of negative air ions on Staphylococcus albus. Nature (Lond.) 281: 400–401.
KOTAKA, S. (1978): Effects of air ions on micro-organisms and other biological materials. C. R. C. Critic. Rev. Microbiol., 7: 109–149.
KOVACS, G. L., BOHUS, B. and VERSTEEG, D. H. G. (1979): Facilitation of memory consolidation by vasopressin: mediation by terminal of the dorsal noradrenergic bundle. Brain Res., 172: 73–85.
KRUEGER, A. P., ANDRIESE, P. C. and KOTAKA, S. (1968): Small air ions: their effects on blood levels of serotonin in terms of modern physical theory. Int. J. Biometeor., 12: 225–240.
KRUEGER, A. P. and REED, E. J. (1976): Biological impact of small air ions. Science, 193: 1209–1213.
OGREN, S. O., ROSS, S. B., HOLM, A. C. and BAUMANN, L. (1978): 5-Hydroxytryptamine and avoidance performance in the rat. Antagonism of the acute effect of p-chloroamphetamine by zimelidine an inhibitor of 5-HT uptake. Neurosci. Lett., 7: 331–336.
OLIVEREAU, J. M. (1970): Action des ions atmosphériques positifs sur le complexe hypothalamo-hypophysaire et la régulation du métabolisme hydrominéral chez le rat albinos. Z. Zellforsch., 107: 361–373.
OLIVEREAU, J. M. (1973): Influence of negative atmospheric ions on the adaptation to stressful situation of the rat. Int. J. Biometeor., 17: 277–284.
OLIVEREAU, J. M. (1974): Dispositif d'aéro-ionisation artificielle permettant des traitements ioniques variés. Int. J. Biometeor., 18: 248–257.
OLIVEREAU, J. M. (1976): L'ionisation atmosphérique et ses conséquences sur le comportement des animaux et de l'homme. Année Psychol., 76: 213–244.
OLIVEREAU, J. M. and AIMAR, C. (1977): Actions of atmospheric ionization on spontaneous activity of an amphibian larva. Developmental Psychobiol., 10: 7–15.
OLIVEREAU, J. M. and TRUONG NGOC, A. (1975): Effets de l'ionisation atmosphérique artificielle sur la thyroïde du rat albinos. Ann. Endocr. (Paris), 63: 301–308.
OLIVEREAU, M., OLIVEREAU, J. M. and AIMAR, C. (1980): Métamorphose et réponses cutanées et thyroïdiennes chez le Pleurodèle soumis à une aéro-ionisation expérimentale. Gen. Comp. Endocr., 40: 149–160.
PROZIALECK, W. C. and VOGEL, W. H. (1979): MAO inhibition and the effects of centrally administrated LSD, serotonin and 5-methoxytryptamine on the conditioned avoidance response in rat. Psychopharmocology, 60: 309–310.
RIVOLIER, J. R., HERISSON, Y. and ZOULOUMIAN, P. (1975): Research on a possible action of negative overionization on healthy humans. Biometeorology 6, Part I. Int. J. Biometeor., 19: suppl., p. 134.
TAL, E., PFEIFER, Y. and SULMAN, F. G. (1976): Effects of air ionization on blood serotonin in vitro. Experientia (Basel), 32: 326–327.
TERRY, R. A., HARDEN, D. G. and MAYYASI, A. M. (1969). Effects of negative air ions, noise, sex and age on maze learning in rats. Int. J. Biometeor., 13: 39–49.
WARBRITTON, I. D., STEWART, R. M. and BALDESSARINI, R. J. (1978): Decreased locomotor activity and attenuation of amphetamine hyperactivity with intraventricular infusion of serotonin in the rat. Brain Res., 143: 373–382.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Olivereau, J.M., Lambert, J.F. Effects of air ions on some aspects of learning and memory of rats and mice. Int J Biometeorol 25, 53–62 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02184439
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02184439