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Provocation study of persons with perceived electrical hypersensitivity and controls using magnetic field exposure and recording of electrophysiological characteristics.

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Lyskov E, Sandström M, Mild KH · 2001

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People with electromagnetic hypersensitivity showed no response to magnetic fields but had distinctly different stress physiology at baseline.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed 20 people with electromagnetic hypersensitivity and 20 healthy controls to magnetic fields while monitoring their bodies. Magnetic fields didn't affect either group, but hypersensitive individuals showed different heart rate and stress patterns, suggesting they may have heightened sensitivity to environmental stressors generally.

Why This Matters

This study adds important nuance to our understanding of electromagnetic hypersensitivity by revealing that people with EHS have measurably different physiological profiles even without EMF exposure. The 10 microtesla exposure level used here is roughly 100 times higher than typical household magnetic field levels, yet produced no detectable effects in either group. What's particularly significant is that EHS patients showed altered heart rate variability and electrodermal activity at baseline, suggesting their symptoms may stem from a broader sensitivity to environmental stressors rather than EMFs specifically. This doesn't invalidate their very real symptoms, but it points toward the complex interplay between individual physiology, environmental factors, and health outcomes that characterizes much of EMF research.

Exposure Details

Magnetic Field
0.01 mG
Source/Device
60 Hz
Exposure Duration
40 min

Exposure Context

This study used 0.01 mG for magnetic fields:

Building Biology guidelines are practitioner-based limits from real-world assessments. BioInitiative Report recommendations are based on peer-reviewed science. Check Your Exposure to compare your own measurements.

Where This Falls on the Concern Scale

Study Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 0.01 mGExtreme Concern - 5 mGFCC Limit - 2,000 mGEffects observed in the No Concern rangeFCC limit is 200,000x higher than this level
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 60 Hz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 60 HzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

The aim of the present study was to investigate possible neurophysiological effects of intermittent 15 sec on/off cycle, 60 Hz, 10 μT magnetic field exposure on patients with perceived “electromagnetic hypersensitivity” (EHS), and control subjects during rest and performance of a mental arithmetic task.

Twenty participants (15 female, 5 male, 31–60 years old, mean 45.8 ± 0.7 years) were invited from th...

The data showed significant main effects of the Group factor (EHS vs. control subjects) on heart rat...

These data do not indicate that EHS patients or control are affected by low-level 60 Hz magnetic field exposure. However, persons reporting EHS differed from the control subjects in baseline values of investigated physiological characteristics. Perhaps EHS patients have a rather distinctive physiological predisposition to sensitivity to physical and psychosocial environmental stressors.

Cite This Study
Lyskov E, Sandström M, Mild KH (2001). Provocation study of persons with perceived electrical hypersensitivity and controls using magnetic field exposure and recording of electrophysiological characteristics. Bioelectromagnetics. 22(7):457-462, 2001.
Show BibTeX
@article{e_2001_provocation_study_of_persons_497,
  author = {Lyskov E and Sandström M and Mild KH},
  title = {Provocation study of persons with perceived electrical hypersensitivity and controls using magnetic field exposure and recording of electrophysiological characteristics.},
  year = {2001},
  doi = {10.1002/bem.73},
  url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/bem.73},
}
DOI: 10.1002/bem.73

Cited By (70 papers)

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Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, research shows people with electromagnetic hypersensitivity have significantly different baseline heart rates and heart rate patterns compared to healthy controls. A 2001 study found these differences existed regardless of magnetic field exposure, suggesting EHS individuals may have distinct physiological characteristics that make them more sensitive to environmental stressors generally.
No, controlled testing found that 60 Hz magnetic fields did not affect people with electromagnetic hypersensitivity or healthy controls. The 2001 Lyskov study exposed both groups to magnetic fields while monitoring their physiology and found no changes in heart rate, brain activity, or stress responses during actual field exposure.
Yes, people with electromagnetic hypersensitivity show significantly different electrodermal activity (skin conductance) and heart rate variability patterns during testing compared to healthy controls. These differences appear in their baseline physiology and stress responses, suggesting they may have heightened sensitivity to various environmental and psychological stressors beyond just electromagnetic fields.
No, brain wave patterns measured by EEG did not differ between people with electromagnetic hypersensitivity and healthy controls in controlled testing. While EHS individuals showed different heart rate and stress responses, their brain electrical activity remained similar to control subjects, suggesting the condition may primarily affect the autonomic nervous system rather than brain function.
Research suggests people with electromagnetic hypersensitivity may have distinctive baseline physiological characteristics that predispose them to environmental sensitivity. A 2001 study found significant differences in heart rate patterns and stress responses in EHS individuals, indicating they may have an inherent physiological predisposition to react more strongly to various physical and psychological stressors.