Medical/biological study (experimental study)

The alpha band of the resting electroencephalogram under pulsed and continuous radio frequency exposures med./bio.

By: Perentos N, Croft RJ, McKenzie RJ, Cosic I

Published in: IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 2013; 60 (6): 1702-1710

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To examine the effect of exposure to pulsed or continuous GSM-like electromagnetic fields on the resting EEG alpha wave activity in humans.

Background/further details

In many studies, indications of an effect of pulsed radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on the EEG have been found (for example Curcio et al. 2005, Croft et al. 2008).
72 healthy volunteers (35 females) were examined under: 1) sham exposure, 2) continuous radiofrequency exposure, 3) pulsed radiofrequency exposure and 4) pulsed extremely low frequency magnetic exposure. Participants attended a two hours recording session which included four 30 minutes intervals (four minutes break in between) where the order of exposure was counter balanced. In each 30 minutes interval, the first five minutes served as baseline, followed by 20 minutes exposure and five minutes post exposure period. Between the intervals, the arousal state was determined.

Endpoint

effects on the neurological system: resting EEG

Exposure

- mobile communications
- mobile phone
- GSM

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: RF (≥ 10 MHz) Modulation type: CW Exposure duration: continuous for 3 x 20 min	SAR: 1.95 W/kg spatial average (10 g)
Exposure 2: RF (≥ 10 MHz) Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: continuous for 3 x 20 min	SAR: 1.95 W/kg peak value SAR: 0.06 W/kg
Exposure 3: 2.1–217 Hz Exposure duration: continuous for 3 x 20 min	magnetic flux density: 25 µT peak value (at the front surface of the handset) eddy current density: 7.77 µA/m² spatial average

General information

Participants were exposed in 4 times 20 min sessions with a 4 min break between exposures: 1) sham exposure 2) continuous RF exposure 3) pulsed RF exposure 4) ELF exposure

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	RF (≥ 10 MHz)
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 3 x 20 min

Modulation

Modulation type	CW

Exposure setup

Exposure source	specially designed handset
Chamber	handset was placed in ear-to-mouth position (held via a cradle), over the right hemisphere; speaker and antenna located over the auditory canal; another handset (not radiating), but otherwise identical, placed on the left side of the head
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
SAR	1.95 W/kg	spatial average	-	10 g	-

Exposure 2

Main characteristics

Frequency	RF (≥ 10 MHz)
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 3 x 20 min

Modulation

Modulation type	pulsed
Additional info	GSM-DTX signal

Exposure setup

Exposure source	same setup as exposure 1
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
SAR	1.95 W/kg	peak value	-	-	-
SAR	0.06 W/kg	-	-	-	-

Exposure 3

Main characteristics

Frequency	2.1–217 Hz
Type	magnetic field
Waveform	pulsed
Exposure duration	continuous for 3 x 20 min
Additional info	GSM-DTX-like pulsing

Exposure setup

Exposure source	same setup as exposure 1
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
magnetic flux density	25 µT	peak value	-	-	at the front surface of the handset
eddy current density	7.77 µA/m²	spatial average	calculated	-	-

Reference articles

Perentos N et al. (2008): Simulation of pulsed ELF magnetic fields generated by GSM mobile phone handsets for human electromagnetic bioeffects research
Boutry CM et al. (2008): Dosimetric evaluation and comparison of different RF exposure apparatuses used in human volunteer studies
Kivekas O et al. (2004): Bandwidth, SAR, and efficiency of internal mobile phone antennas

Exposed system:

human
partial body: right ear

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

effects on the neurological system: resting EEG, especially alpha wave frequency band; arousal state (questionnaire)

Investigated system:

investigation on living organism

Investigated organ system:

brain/CNS

Time of investigation:

before exposure
during exposure
after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Exposure to pulsed radiofrequency electromagnetic fields significantly changed the alpha wave activity when compared to sham exposure. However, no significant differences were found between the exposure to pulsed and continuous radiofrequency fields, where a slight but not significant difference in the EEG was found in comparison to sham exposure.
Compared to sham exposure, no significant effect of pulsed extremely low frequency magnetic exposure on the EEG activity was observed.
The results indicate that the alpha waves of the resting EEG are altered by radiofrequency electromagnetic fields, but do not support the hypothesis that the pulsing is essential for this effect.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study
double-blind study, cross-over study

Study funded by

National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Australia

Yang L et al. (2017): Long-Term Evolution electromagnetic fields exposure modulates the resting state EEG on alpha and beta bands
Trunk A et al. (2015): Effects of concurrent caffeine and mobile phone exposure on local target probability processing in the human brain
Roggeveen S et al. (2015): EEG changes due to experimentally induced 3G mobile phone radiation
Ghosn R et al. (2015): Radiofrequency signal affects alpha band in resting electroencephalogram
Lv B et al. (2014): Whole brain EEG synchronization likelihood modulated by long term evolution electromagnetic fields exposure
Loughran SP et al. (2013): No increased sensitivity in brain activity of adolescents exposed to mobile phone-like emissions
Leung S et al. (2011): Effects of 2G and 3G mobile phones on performance and electrophysiology in adolescents, young adults and older adults
Croft RJ et al. (2010): Effects of 2G and 3G mobile phones on human alpha rhythms: Resting EEG in adolescents, young adults, and the elderly
Vecchio F et al. (2010): Mobile phone emission modulates inter-hemispheric functional coupling of EEG alpha rhythms in elderly compared to young subjects
Hinrikus H et al. (2009): Effect of modulated at different low frequencies microwave radiation on human EEG
van Rongen E et al. (2009): Effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on the human nervous system
Suhhova A et al. (2009): Effect of modulated microwave radiation on human EEG asymmetry
Cook CM et al. (2009): Changes in human EEG alpha activity following exposure to two different pulsed magnetic field sequences
Perentos N et al. (2008): The effect of GSM-like ELF radiation on the alpha band of the human resting EEG
Kleinlogel H et al. (2008): Effects of weak mobile phone - electromagnetic fields (GSM, UMTS) on well-being and resting EEG
Hinrikus H et al. (2008): Effect of low frequency modulated microwave exposure on human EEG: Individual sensitivity
Hinrikus H et al. (2008): Effect of 7, 14 and 21 Hz modulated 450 MHz microwave radiation on human electroencephalographic rhythms
Croft RJ et al. (2008): The effect of mobile phone electromagnetic fields on the alpha rhythm of human electroencephalogram
Vecchio F et al. (2007): Mobile phone emission modulates interhemispheric functional coupling of EEG alpha rhythms
Curcio G et al. (2005): Is the brain influenced by a phone call? An EEG study of resting wakefulness

The alpha band of the resting electroencephalogram under pulsed and continuous radio frequency exposures med./bio.

Aim of study (acc. to author)

Background/further details

Endpoint

Exposure

General information

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Modulation

Exposure setup

Parameters

Exposure 2

Main characteristics

Modulation

Exposure setup

Parameters

Exposure 3

Main characteristics

Exposure setup

Parameters

Reference articles

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Study funded by

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