Effects of air ions on some aspects of learning and memory of rats and mice

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.