INTRODUCTION: EFFECTS OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION ON THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
W. R. Adey · 1975
Oscillating electric and electromagnetic fields produced effects on the mammalian central nervous system without significant heating of tissues.
Plain English Summary
Studies reported behavioral effects including shortening of human reaction times, of human circadian rhythms, and of subjective estimates of the passage of time in the monkey, using electric fields at 5-15 Hz with a peak amplitude of 2-10 V/m in air. There was a remarkable tuning curve for different modulation frequencies, with increased calcium efflux from the cortex at modulation frequencies between 9 and 20 Hz, but very little increase outside this frequency band. Pulsed electric stimulation of cat cortex with gradients in the range 20-60 mV/cm increased the efflux of both calcium and GABA.
Why This Matters
At the time this introduction was written, the World Health Organization had decided to dismiss from its concerns possible biologic effects that might occur in the absence of significant heating. Adey argued that brain temperature alterations attributable to weak low-frequency electric fields are far below the natural perturbations in brain temperature associated with eating, drinking, or environmental temperature shifts. Measurements in phantom monkeys showed that currents to ground of 0.8 nA were induced by the fields, and calculations suggested the expected electric gradient would be between 0.1 and 0.01 µV/cm in a monkey brain. Adey proposed that the broad surface sheet of macromolecular material with its numerous fixed negative charges may function as a sensor of weak electric fields. The calcium release findings with weak electric stimulation were described as occurring at energy levels far below those seen in classic synaptic activation.
Exposure Details
- Power Density
- 1.0 mW/cm²
- Electric Field
- 10 V/m
Exposure Context
This study used 1.0 mW/cm² for radio frequency:
- 100Mx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.1 μW/m²
- 1.7Mx above the BioInitiative Report recommendation of 0.0006 μW/cm²
This study used 10 V/m for electric fields:
- 33.3x above the Building Biology guideline of 0.3 V/m
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 Details
To investigate the effects of electromagnetic radiation on the nervous system, particularly focusing on nonthermal effects of oscillating electric and electromagnetic fields on the mammalian central nervous system without significant heating.
The study involved examining the effects of electric fields at 5-15 Hz with a peak amplitude of 2-10...
Behavioral effects included shortening of human reaction times, circadian rhythms, and subjective es...
The brain's sensitivity to weak electric fields may be related to the properties of membrane surface glycocalyx and its interaction with calcium ions. The study suggests that the brain's response to weak electric fields may involve cooperative binding processes at membrane surface polyanions, potentially triggering metabolic energy release through transmembrane signals. The findings support a model where membrane surface properties play a significant role in sensing weak electric fields and may be involved in information processing in brain tissue.
Show BibTeX
@article{introduction_effects_of_electromagnetic_radiation_on_the_nervous_system_g5916,
author = {W. R. Adey},
title = {INTRODUCTION: EFFECTS OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION ON THE NERVOUS SYSTEM},
year = {1975},
}