en Behavioral Neuroscience Behavioral Neuroscience Original Original <div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Introduction:</strong> Extremely Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields (ELF-EMFs) have gathered significant consideration for their possible pathogenicity. However, their effects on the nervous system&rsquo;s functions were not fully clarified. This study aimed to assay the impact of ELF-EMFs with different intensities on memory, anxiety, antioxidant activity, &beta;-amyloid (A&beta;) deposition, and microglia population in rats.&nbsp;<br> <strong>Methods: </strong>Fifty male adult rats were randomly separated into 5 groups; 4 were exposed to a flux density of 1, 100, 500, and 2000 microtesla (&micro;T), 50 Hz frequency for one h/day for two months, and one group as a control group. The control group was without ELF-EMF stimulation. After 8 weeks, passive avoidance and Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) tests were performed to assess memory formation and anxiety-like behavior, respectively. Total free thiol groups and the index of lipid peroxidation were evaluated. Additionally, for detection of A&beta; deposition and stained microglia in the brain, anti-&beta;-amyloid and anti-Iba1 antibodies were used.&nbsp;<br> <strong>Results:</strong> The step-through latency in the retention test in ELF-EMF exposure groups (100500 & 2000 &micro;T) was significantly greater than the control group (P<0.05). Furthermore, the frequency of the entries into the open arms in ELF-EMF exposure groups (especially 2000 &micro;T) decreased than the control group (P<0.05). No A&beta; depositions were detected in the hippocampus of different groups. An increase in microglia numbers in the 100, 500, and 2000 &micro;T groups was observed compared to the control and one &micro;T group.<br> <strong>Conclusion:</strong> Exposure to ELF-EMF had an anxiogenic effect on rats, promoted memory, and induced oxidative stress. No A&beta; depositions were detected in the brain. Moreover, the positive impact of ELF-EMF was observed on the microglia population in the brain.</div> Memory, Anxiety, Oxidative stress, β-amyloid, Microglial cell, Magnetic field 849 860 http://bcn.iums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1204-2&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Nafiseh Faraji faraji114114@gmail.com 13700319475328460039221 13700319475328460039221 No Neurophysiology Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran. Iraj Salehi irsalehi@yahoo.com 13700319475328460039222 13700319475328460039222 No Neurophysiology Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran. Akram Alizadeh alizadehbio@gmail.com 13700319475328460039223 13700319475328460039223 No Nervous System Stem Cells Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran. Arash Pourgholaminejad pourgholaminejad@gums.ac.ir 13700319475328460039224 13700319475328460039224 No Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran. Alireza Komaki alirezakomaki@gmail.com 13700319475328460039225 13700319475328460039225 No Neurophysiology Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran. Masoumeh Taheri Azandaryani Masoomehtahery@yahoo.com 13700319475328460039226 13700319475328460039226 No Neurophysiology Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran. Reihaneh Sadeghian 13700319475328460039227 13700319475328460039227 No Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran. Zoleikha Golipoor zoliekhagolipoor@gums.ac.ir 13700319475328460039228 13700319475328460039228 Yes Neurophysiology Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.