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).
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.
| Exposure | Parameters |
|---|---|
|
Exposure 1:
60 Hz
Exposure duration:
continuous for 30 minutes
|
|
|
Exposure 2:
60 Hz
Exposure duration:
continuous for 60 minutes
|
|
| Frequency | 60 Hz |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Waveform | |
| Exposure duration | continuous for 30 minutes |
| Additional info | pilot study |
| 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 |
| Measurand | Value | Type | Method | Mass | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| magnetic flux density | 1.8 mT | maximum | - | - | at the location of the cortex, 1 cm underneath the skull |
| Frequency | 60 Hz |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Waveform | |
| Exposure duration | continuous for 60 minutes |
| Additional info | main study |
| 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 |
| Measurand | Value | Type | Method | Mass | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| magnetic flux density | 3 mT | maximum | - | - | at the location of the cortex, 1 cm underneath the skull |
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.
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