Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Effect of Microwave Radiation on EEG Coherence med./bio.

By: Suhhova A, Bachmann M, Aadamsoo K, Vohma U, Lass J, Hinrikus H

Published in: Katashev A, Dekhtyar Y, Spigulis J (eds.): 14th Nordic-Baltic Conference on Biomedical Engineering and Medical Physics. IFMBE Proceedings, volume 20; Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, 2008; pp. 331-334; ISBN 978-3-540-69366-6

doi:10.1007/978-3-540-69367-3_88

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Aim of study (acc. to author)

To investigate the effect of modulated microwave exposure on the EEG coherence in healthy and depressive persons.

Background/further details

Characteristic changes in the EEG pattern in patients with depressive disorder are related to spatial phenomena in the brain. These can be measured by the signal coherence (similar waveform) of two electrode positions, i.e. brain regions, of a certain frequency band in the EEG. High coherence between EEG signals of two brain regions is interpreted as increased functional cooperation between these regions.
18 healthy women and 18 women with major depressive disorder were exposed and sham-exposed in randomized order. EEG coherence between frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital electrode channels was considered.

Endpoint

effects on the neurological system: EEG coherence

Exposure

- microwaves

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 450 MHz Exposure duration: continuous for 30 min	power density: 1.6 mW/cm² (at the skalp) power: 10 W SAR: 0.3 W/kg maximum

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	450 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 30 min

Modulation

Modulation type	cf. additional info
Additional info	pulse modulation with a modulation frequency of 1000 Hz and a duty factor of 50 %

Exposure setup

Exposure source	quarter-wave antenna
Distance between exposed object and exposure source	10 cm
Setup	antenna located near the skin of the head's left side
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
power density	1.6 mW/cm²	-	estimated	-	at the skalp
power	10 W	-	-	-	-
SAR	0.3 W/kg	maximum	calculated	-	-

Exposed system:

human
partial body: head

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

effects on the neurological system: EEG coherence: analysis of theta wave, alpha wave, beta wave 1 (13-20 Hz), beta wave 2 (20-40 Hz)

Investigated system:

investigation on living organism

Investigated organ system:

brain/CNS

Time of investigation:

during exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Significant changes in EEG coherence caused by microwave exposure could not be detected on the group level, but only in individual persons: Increased EEG coherence was observed for healthy women in theta waves (3 subjects) and alpha waves (2 subjects) over the frontal and temporal region, as well as decrease in alpha waves over the parietal and occipital region. In women with major depression significant changes in EEG coherence were observed in beta wave 2 (2 subjects) over frontal and temporal region and in alpha wave (3 subjects) over temporal and parietal region. The rate of individual subjects affected by microwave exposure was the same in both groups.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

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