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Alterations of human electroencephalographic activity caused by multiple extremely low frequency magnetic field exposures.

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Cvetkovic D, Cosic I. · 2009

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Magnetic fields can alter human brain waves at matching frequencies within minutes, demonstrating direct electromagnetic influence on neural activity.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed 33 people to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ranging from 4 to 50 Hz) and measured their brain waves using EEG. They found that specific magnetic field frequencies could alter brain wave patterns in corresponding frequency bands - for example, 10 Hz magnetic fields changed alpha brain waves (8-12 Hz). The changes depended on timing and sequence of exposure, suggesting these fields can influence brain activity in predictable ways.

Why This Matters

This study provides compelling evidence that extremely low frequency magnetic fields can directly influence brain wave patterns in humans. What makes this research particularly significant is the demonstration of frequency-specific effects - magnetic fields at 10 Hz altered alpha brain waves, while 13 Hz fields affected beta waves. This suggests a resonance-like interaction between external electromagnetic fields and our brain's electrical activity. The reality is that we're constantly exposed to ELF magnetic fields from power lines, electrical wiring, and household appliances operating at 50-60 Hz. While the researchers suggest potential therapeutic applications, the findings also raise important questions about unintended neurological effects from everyday EMF exposure. The fact that these changes occurred within just 10-16 minutes of exposure underscores how quickly our brain activity can be influenced by external electromagnetic fields.

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 50 Hz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 50 HzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. The study examined exposure from: 4, 8.33, 10, 13, 16.66, 50 Hz Duration: 10-16 min, 60-65 min

Study Details

This study aims at extending our ELF pilot study to investigate whether MF exposures at ELF in series from 50, 16.66, 13, 10, 8.33 to 4 Hz could alter relative power within the corresponding EEG bands

33 human subjects were tested under a double-blind and counter-balanced conditions. The multiple rep...

The results from this study have shown that narrow alpha1 (7.5-9.5 Hz) and alpha2 (9-11 Hz) bands, a...

The final outcome of our result has shown that it is possible to alter the human EEG activity of alpha and beta bands when exposed to MF at frequencies corresponding to those same bands, depending on the order and period of MF conditions. This type of EEG synchronisation of driving alpha and beta EEG by alpha and beta sinusoidal MF stimulation, demonstrated in this study, could possibly be applied as therapeutic treatment(s) of particular neurophysiological abnormalities such as sleep and psychiatric disorders.

Cite This Study
Cvetkovic D, Cosic I. (2009). Alterations of human electroencephalographic activity caused by multiple extremely low frequency magnetic field exposures. Med Biol Eng Comput. 47(10):1063-1073, 2009.
Show BibTeX
@article{d_2009_alterations_of_human_electroencephalographic_1736,
  author = {Cvetkovic D and Cosic I.},
  title = {Alterations of human electroencephalographic activity caused by multiple extremely low frequency magnetic field exposures.},
  year = {2009},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19707808/},
}
PubMed: 19707808

Cited By (33 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, a 2009 study found that specific extremely low frequency magnetic fields (4-50 Hz) can alter corresponding brain wave patterns. For example, 10 Hz magnetic fields changed alpha brain waves, while 13 Hz fields increased beta waves in the frontal brain region.
Research shows 8.33 Hz magnetic field exposure significantly reduces alpha1 brain wave activity (7.5-9.5 Hz) in temporal and parietal brain regions during the first 10-16 minutes of exposure, with effects varying based on timing and exposure sequence.
Brain wave changes from extremely low frequency magnetic fields show time-dependent patterns. Initial exposure (10-16 minutes) reduces alpha activity, while later exposure sessions (60-65 minutes) show increased activity compared to control conditions in the same brain regions.
Researchers suggest that precisely timed extremely low frequency magnetic fields could potentially treat neurophysiological conditions like sleep and psychiatric disorders, since the study demonstrated predictable synchronization between magnetic field frequencies and corresponding brain wave patterns.
The frontal brain region shows the strongest response to 13 Hz magnetic field exposure, with significant increases in beta1 brain waves (12-14 Hz) measured before and after the first exposure session in this specific area.