Stimulation of the brain with radiofrequency electromagnetic field pulses affects sleep-dependent performance improvement.
Lustenberger C, Murbach M, Durr R, Schmid MR, Kuster N, Achermann P, Huber R. · 2013
View Original AbstractNighttime cell phone-level RF radiation reduced sleep-dependent learning improvement by 20%, suggesting wireless devices impair memory consolidation during sleep.
Plain English Summary
Swiss researchers exposed 16 men to cell phone-like radiofrequency signals during sleep while monitoring brain activity. The RF exposure altered brain waves and reduced participants' ability to improve motor skills by 20% compared to nights without exposure, suggesting nighttime RF may disrupt sleep-dependent learning processes.
Why This Matters
This controlled study adds important evidence to our understanding of how RF radiation affects brain function during sleep. The 900 MHz frequency used mirrors cell phone emissions, making these findings directly relevant to anyone who sleeps near wireless devices. What makes this research particularly significant is that it demonstrates measurable impacts on cognitive performance, not just changes in brain activity. The 20% reduction in motor learning improvement represents a substantial decline in one of sleep's most important functions. The science demonstrates that RF exposure doesn't just alter brain waves during sleep - it actually impairs the brain's ability to consolidate skills and memories overnight. This study reinforces why creating an EMF-free sleep environment isn't just about sleep quality, but about protecting the critical neurological processes that occur during rest.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. The study examined exposure from: 900 MHz Duration: All-night
Study Details
The aim of our study was to explore possible mechanisms how RF EMF affect cortical activity during sleep and to test whether such effects on cortical activity during sleep interact with sleep-dependent performance changes.
Sixteen male subjects underwent 2 experimental nights, one of them with all-night 0.25–0.8 Hz pulsed...
We obtained good sleep quality in all subjects under both conditions (mean sleep efficiency > 90%). ...
The changes in the time course of SWA during the exposure night may reflect an interaction of RF EMF with the renormalization of cortical excitability during sleep, with a negative impact on sleep-dependent performance improvement.
Show BibTeX
@article{c_2013_stimulation_of_the_brain_1511,
author = {Lustenberger C and Murbach M and Durr R and Schmid MR and Kuster N and Achermann P and Huber R. },
title = {Stimulation of the brain with radiofrequency electromagnetic field pulses affects sleep-dependent performance improvement.},
year = {2013},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1935861X13000442},
}