Electroencephalographic and morphological studies on the effect of microwaves on the central nervous system med./bio.

A series of EEG and morphological investigations was carried out to elucidate the influence of microwave exposure on CNS. The difference in the action of a pulsed and continuous electromagnetic field was investigated.

• animal
• rabbit

Chronic exposure with microwaves within the 10 cm band (7 mW/cm² power density), which do not raise the temperature, produces both functional and morphological changes, their intensity being greater when pulse modulation and not continuous modulation is applied.
The absence of a major effect of a single exposure to microwaves (5-7 mW/cm² power density) and simultaneous intensification of the changes as the period of exposure is prolonged, point to the possibility of cumulation of the doses applied. The negative effect of a single exposure to microwaves of equal length depends on the power density and kind of modulation applied.
The changes revealed under pulse modulation seem to be independent of the thermic effect. On the contrary, the character of the changes in the case of application of continuous modulation and the temperature rise observed seem to indicate a predominance of the thermic effect. The absence of noticeable functional and morphological changes upon exposure to 3 cm microwaves is evidence of the dependence of the effect on wavelength. This in turn seems to be related with the absorption of energy by the surface tissues.