8,700 Studies Reviewed. 87.0% Found Biological Effects. The Evidence is Clear.
Shield Your Body
Brain & Nervous System

Cognitive and neurobiological alterations in electromagnetic hypersensitive patients: results of a case-control study.

Bioeffects Seen

Landgrebe M, Frick U, Hauser S, Langguth B, Rosner R, Hajak G, Eichhammer P. · 2008

View Original Abstract
Share:

People reporting electromagnetic hypersensitivity show measurable brain differences, suggesting genuine neurobiological vulnerability rather than purely psychological symptoms.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers compared 89 people who report electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) with 107 healthy controls using brain stimulation tests and cognitive assessments. They found that EHS patients had measurable differences in brain function, including reduced ability to distinguish between real and fake electromagnetic stimulation, and altered patterns of brain excitability that varied by age. The study suggests these individuals may have genuine neurobiological differences that make them more vulnerable to electromagnetic effects.

Why This Matters

This research matters because it challenges the common dismissal of electromagnetic hypersensitivity as purely psychological. Using objective brain measurements rather than subjective symptom reports, the researchers found concrete neurobiological differences in people with EHS. The finding that only 40% of EHS patients could distinguish sham stimulation from no stimulation (compared to 60% of controls) suggests altered sensory processing, while the age-related changes in brain excitability point to real physiological variations. What this means for you is that EHS appears to involve measurable brain differences, not just imagination or anxiety. While we still don't fully understand the mechanisms, this study adds to growing evidence that some individuals may indeed be more biologically susceptible to electromagnetic fields than others.

Exposure Information

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Study Details

This study examined in the largest sample of EHS EMF-specific cognitive correlates, discrimination ability and neurobiological parameters in order to get further insight into the pathophysiology of electromagnetic hypersensitivity.

In a case-control design 89 EHS and 107 age- and gender-matched controls were included in the study....

Discrimination ability was significantly reduced in EHS (only 40% of the EHS but 60% of the controls...

These results demonstrate significant cognitive and neurobiological alterations pointing to a higher genuine individual vulnerability of electromagnetic hypersensitive patients.

Cite This Study
Landgrebe M, Frick U, Hauser S, Langguth B, Rosner R, Hajak G, Eichhammer P. (2008). Cognitive and neurobiological alterations in electromagnetic hypersensitive patients: results of a case-control study. Psychol Med. 38(12):1781-1791, 2008.
Show BibTeX
@article{m_2008_cognitive_and_neurobiological_alterations_2336,
  author = {Landgrebe M and Frick U and Hauser S and Langguth B and Rosner R and Hajak G and Eichhammer P.},
  title = {Cognitive and neurobiological alterations in electromagnetic hypersensitive patients: results of a case-control study.},
  year = {2008},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18366821/},
}
PubMed: 18366821

Cited By (54 papers)

View all 54 citing papers on Semantic Scholar

Quick Questions About This Study

A 2008 study found that people with electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) had significantly reduced ability to distinguish real from fake electromagnetic stimulation. Only 40% of EHS patients felt no sensation during fake stimulation, compared to 60% of healthy controls, suggesting impaired discrimination abilities.
Research by Landgrebe and colleagues demonstrated that EHS patients have measurable neurobiological differences, including altered patterns of brain excitability that vary by age. Younger EHS patients showed decreased intra-cortical facilitation, while older patients showed increased facilitation compared to healthy controls.
The 2008 case-control study identified specific EMF-related cognitive patterns in EHS patients, including aspects of rumination, symptom intolerance, vulnerability concerns, and stabilizing self-esteem that specifically differentiated them from 107 healthy controls. These cognitive alterations suggest genuine individual vulnerability differences.
EHS patients showed comparable perception thresholds for real magnetic pulses as healthy controls (median 21% versus 24% of maximum pulse intensity). However, they demonstrated significantly impaired ability to distinguish between real electromagnetic stimulation and fake placebo stimulation during testing.
The study found age-dependent differences in brain excitability among EHS patients. Younger electromagnetic hypersensitive individuals showed decreased intra-cortical facilitation, while older EHS patients exhibited increased facilitation, suggesting that neurobiological alterations vary across different age groups in this population.