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Brain & Nervous System

Millimeter-wave high frequency 5G (26 GHz) electromagnetic fields do not modulate human brain electrical activity

No Effects Found

Michelant L, Baz T, Carrie A, Hugueville L, Lévêque P, Selmaoui B · 2025

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First human study finds no brain wave changes from 26.5-minute 26 GHz 5G exposure.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed 31 healthy young adults to 26 GHz 5G millimeter-wave radiation for 26.5 minutes and measured their brain electrical activity using EEG. The study found no changes in brain wave patterns during or after exposure to this 5G frequency at regulatory-compliant levels. This provides the first controlled data on how 26 GHz 5G signals affect human brain activity.

Why This Matters

This study addresses a critical gap in 5G safety research by being the first to examine how 26 GHz millimeter waves affect human brain electrical activity under controlled conditions. The reality is that millions of people are now exposed to these frequencies daily through 5G networks, yet we've had virtually no human data on neurological effects. While finding no immediate EEG changes is reassuring, we must recognize the study's limitations. The exposure duration was brief at 26.5 minutes, the sample size modest at 31 participants, and the population limited to healthy young adults. What this means for you is that while this study suggests short-term 26 GHz exposure doesn't alter brain waves, we still lack data on longer exposures, vulnerable populations like children or the elderly, and other potential neurological effects beyond EEG patterns.

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 26 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 26 GHzPower lines50/60 HzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHzLogarithmic scale

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Cite This Study
Michelant L, Baz T, Carrie A, Hugueville L, Lévêque P, Selmaoui B (2025). Millimeter-wave high frequency 5G (26 GHz) electromagnetic fields do not modulate human brain electrical activity.
Show BibTeX
@article{michelant_l_baz_t_carrie_a_hugueville_l_lvque_p_selmaoui_b_ce3381,
  author = {Michelant L and Baz T and Carrie A and Hugueville L and Lévêque P and Selmaoui B},
  title = {Millimeter-wave high frequency 5G (26 GHz) electromagnetic fields do not modulate human brain electrical activity},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2025.123349},
  
}
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2025.123349PubMed: 41265672

Quick Questions About This Study

This first controlled study found no changes in brain electrical activity (EEG) when 31 healthy adults were exposed to 26 GHz 5G radiation for 26.5 minutes at regulatory-compliant levels of 2 V/m.
Participants received 26.5 minutes of exposure to 26 GHz electromagnetic fields at 2 V/m intensity. Brain activity was monitored before, during, and after this exposure period using EEG recordings.
26 GHz is a millimeter-wave frequency used in newer 5G networks, much higher than traditional cell phone frequencies around 1-2 GHz. These shorter waves penetrate less deeply into tissue but are increasingly common in urban 5G deployments.
Yes, this was a rigorous triple-blind crossover study where participants, researchers, and data analysts didn't know which session was real versus sham exposure. Each person served as their own control across two sessions.
The 2 V/m exposure level used meets current regulatory safety standards and represents realistic exposure scenarios from 5G millimeter-wave networks deployed in urban environments and indoor wireless applications.