Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Effects of a 60 Hz magnetic field exposure up to 3000 µT on human brain activation as measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging med./bio.

Published in: PLoS One 2015; 10 (7): e0132024

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The effects of exposure of subjects to a 60 Hz magnetic field on the brain activity should be investigated using fMRI (remark EMF-Portal: the static magnetic field of the MRI was present during the whole session).

Background/further details

The study comprised two parts: a pilot study (n=5 exposure and n=4 sham exposure subjects) with a finger tapping task before and after 30 minutes of 60 Hz exposure, and the main study with a successive rest phase, finger tapping task (n=9 exposure and n=11 sham exposure subjects) and a mental rotation task (n=10 exposure and n=11 sham exposure subjects) before and after 60 minutes of 60 Hz exposure, respectively.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 60 Hz
Exposure duration: continuous for 30 minutes
Exposure 2: 60 Hz
Exposure duration: continuous for 60 minutes

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 60 Hz
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration continuous for 30 minutes
Additional info pilot study
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Setup subjects were placed in the MRI scanner in a head-first supine position with their heads gently restrained in a 12-channel phased array head coil lined with foam
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Additional info an audio clip mimicking the sound of the 60 Hz MF was played in the experimental room during sham exposure to ensure similar experimental conditions
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 1.8 mT maximum - - at the location of the cortex, 1 cm underneath the skull

Exposure 2

Main characteristics
Frequency 60 Hz
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration continuous for 60 minutes
Additional info main study
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Setup subjects were placed in the MRI scanner in a head-first supine position with their heads gently restrained in a 32-channel phased array head coil lined with foam
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Additional info an audio clip mimicking the sound of the 60 Hz MF was played in the experimental room during sham exposure to ensure similar experimental conditions
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 3 mT maximum - - at the location of the cortex, 1 cm underneath the skull

Reference articles

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Investigated organ system:
Time of investigation:
  • before exposure
  • during exposure
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Both, in the pilot study as well as in the main study, and in all tasks, a significantly decreased activity was detected in the cortex and cerebellum after exposure in exposed subjects compared to sham exposed subjects.
No differences were found in the performance of the tasks between the groups, and subjects could not distinguish between exposure and sham exposure conditions.
The authors conclude that exposure of subjects to a combined static and 60 Hz magnetic field could modulate the brain activity.

Study character:

Study funded by

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