No nonthermal effect observed under microwave irradiation of spinal cord

Presents an in vivo experiment concerning cerebral evoked potentials in the presence and in the absence of microwaves irradiating the spinal cord. An electrical stimulus is applied on the peripheral nervous system of a rabbit while the impulse response (evoked potential) is measured by an electrode in the cortex. The spinal cord is irradiated at 4.2-GHz by an implanted micro-antenna. The purpose of the experiment is to distinguish between thermal and possible nonthermal effects. A statistical treatment of the recorded data shows that there is a microwave effect. Power deposition is calculated. The bioheat equation indicates that the microwave irradiation results in a temperature increase within the spinal cord. Nonthermal effects were not observed