Electromagnetic fields and EEG spiking rate in patients with focal epilepsy.
Curcio G, Mazzucchi E, Marca GD, Vollono C, Rossini PM. · 2014
View Original AbstractCell phone radiation measurably altered brain activity in epilepsy patients but appeared to reduce rather than increase seizure-related brain spikes.
Plain English Summary
Italian researchers exposed 12 epilepsy patients to GSM cell phone signals (like those from mobile phones) for 45 minutes while monitoring their brain activity. They found that cell phone radiation actually reduced epileptic spike activity and changed brain wave patterns, but concluded these changes weren't clinically significant. The study suggests that mobile phone use doesn't increase seizure risk in epilepsy patients.
Why This Matters
This study addresses a critical concern for the 65 million people worldwide living with epilepsy: whether cell phone radiation might trigger seizures. The researchers used GSM signals, the same technology in most mobile phones, and found that electromagnetic exposure actually decreased abnormal brain spiking rather than increasing it. While the authors dismissed the brain wave changes as 'not clinically relevant,' the reality is that any measurable alteration in brain electrical activity demonstrates biological impact. The science shows that EMF exposure consistently produces detectable changes in brain function, even when researchers conclude these changes aren't immediately harmful. What this means for you is that while this particular study suggests cell phone use won't trigger seizures in epilepsy patients, it confirms that radiofrequency radiation does influence brain activity in measurable ways.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. Duration: 45 min exposure
Study Details
The aim of this study is to investigate Electromagnetic fields and EEG spiking rate in patients with focal epilepsy.
Brain electrical (electroencephalogram, EEG) activity of 12 patients with focal epilepsy has been re...
Spiking activity tended to be lower under Real than under Sham exposure. EEG spectral content analys...
Acute GSM exposure in epileptic patients slightly influences their EEG properties, without reaching any clinical relevance.
Show BibTeX
@article{g_2014_electromagnetic_fields_and_eeg_2007,
author = {Curcio G and Mazzucchi E and Marca GD and Vollono C and Rossini PM.},
title = {Electromagnetic fields and EEG spiking rate in patients with focal epilepsy.},
year = {2014},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25163416/},
}