Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Are there modulated Electromagnetic Field Effects on Human Conscious Perception during Attentional Blink Test? med./bio.

By: Lass J, Rodina A, Riipulk J, Hinrikus H, Bachmann T

Published in: 2006 International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, New York, NY, USA. IEEE, 2006: pp. 2924-2927; ISBN 978-1-4244-0032-4

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Aim of study (acc. to author)

This study was designed to examine the effects of 450 MHz electromagnetic fields on human central nervous system function concerning conscious visual perception in vivo.

Background/further details

Twenty healthy volunteers (9 male, 11 female), aged between 22-34 years participated in this study. Each subject performed two tests (electromagnetic field exposure and sham exposure) consisting of 100 trials each.

Endpoint

cognitive/behavioral endpoints: visual perception

Exposure

- microwaves

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 450 MHz Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: continuous for 15-20 min	power density: 0.16 mW/cm² SAR: 0.35 W/kg

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	450 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 15-20 min

Modulation

Modulation type	pulsed
Duty cycle	50 %
Repetition frequency	40 Hz

Exposure setup

Exposure source	quarter wave antenna (13 cm)
Distance between exposed object and exposure source	10 cm
Chamber	Subjects were left alone in a dimly lit, sound isolated room.
Setup	The antenna was located 10 cm from the right side of the head.
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.
Additional info	Each subject participated in two tests (EMF and sham conditions) and training sessions during one day with a 15-minute break between. The order of exposure conditions was counterbalanced across the subjects.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
power density	0.16 mW/cm²	-	estimated	-	-
SAR	0.35 W/kg	-	estimated	-	-

Measurement and calculation details

Field power density at the skin and SAR were estimated by the measured calibration curves [Rodina et al., 2005].

Reference articles

Rodina A et al. (2005): Study of effects of low level microwave field by method of face masking

Exposed system:

human
partial body: right side of the head

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

cognitive/behavioral endpoints: visual perception (attentional blink test: eight letters are presented serially and two numbers are hidden, the subject has to call the numbers discovered)

Investigated system:

investigation on living organism

Investigated organ system:

brain/CNS

Time of investigation:

during exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

No statistically significant effects of electromagentic fields on human conscious visual perception were observed.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study
blind study

Study funded by

Estonian Science Foundation (ETF), Estonia

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