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Sleep EEG alterations: effects of pulsed magnetic fields versus pulse‐modulated radio frequency electromagnetic fields

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Schmid MR, Murbach M, Lustenberger C, Maire M, Kuster N, Achermann P, Loughran SP · 2012

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Both pulse-modulated radio frequency and pulsed magnetic fields affected brain physiology, but the study did not support the demodulation hypothesis.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Twenty-five young healthy men took part in a randomized double-blind crossover design, exposed at weekly intervals to different conditions for 30 minutes before sleep. The conditions were a 2-Hz pulse-modulated radio frequency field, a 2-Hz pulsed magnetic field, and sham. Radio frequency exposure increased electroencephalogram power in the spindle frequency range. Delta and theta activity during non-rapid eye movement sleep, and alpha and delta activity during rapid eye movement sleep, were affected following both exposure conditions. No effect on sleep architecture and no clear impact of exposure on cognition was observed.

Why This Matters

The study aimed to determine if modulation components above 20 Hz, in combination with radio frequency, are necessary to alter the electroencephalogram. It also tested the demodulation hypothesis, asking whether the same effects occur after magnetic field exposure using the same pulse sequence as the radio frequency exposure. The results showed that significant frequency components above 20 Hz are not fundamental for these effects to occur. Because responses were not identical for all exposures, the study does not support the idea that radio frequency effects are based on demodulation of the signal only.

Exposure Details

SAR
2 W/kg
Source/Device
900 MHz
Exposure Duration
30 min

Exposure Context

This study used 2 W/kg for SAR (device absorption):

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: 2 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)This level is 1 times the FCC limit
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 900 MHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 900 MHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

The current study aimed: (i) to determine if modulation components above 20 Hz, in combination with radio frequency, are necessary to alter the electroencephalogram; and (ii) to test the demodulation hypothesis, if the same effects occur after magnetic field exposure with the same pulse sequence used in the pulse‐modulated radio frequency exposure.

In a randomized double‐blind crossover design, 25 young healthy men were exposed at weekly intervals...

Radio frequency exposure increased electroencephalogram power in the spindle frequency range. Furthe...

Cite This Study
Schmid MR, Murbach M, Lustenberger C, Maire M, Kuster N, Achermann P, Loughran SP (2012). Sleep EEG alterations: effects of pulsed magnetic fields versus pulse‐modulated radio frequency electromagnetic fields J Sleep Res. 21(6):620-629, 2012b.
Show BibTeX
@article{mr_2012_sleep_eeg_alterations_effects_179,
  author = {Schmid MR and Murbach M and Lustenberger C and Maire M and Kuster N and Achermann P and Loughran SP},
  title = {Sleep EEG alterations: effects of pulsed magnetic fields versus pulse‐modulated radio frequency electromagnetic fields},
  year = {2012},
  doi = {10.1111/j.1365-2869.2012.01025.x},
  url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1365-2869.2012.01025.x},
}
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2869.2012.01025.x

Cited By (58 papers)

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Quick Questions About This Study

Twenty-five young healthy men took part, exposed at weekly intervals to conditions for 30 minutes before sleep.
The conditions were a 2-Hz pulse-modulated radio frequency field, a 2-Hz pulsed magnetic field, and sham.
Both pulse-modulated radio frequency and pulsed magnetic fields affected brain physiology. Radio frequency exposure also increased electroencephalogram power in the spindle frequency range.
No effect on sleep architecture and no clear impact of exposure on cognition was observed.
Because responses were not identical for all exposures, the study does not support the hypothesis that effects of radio frequency exposure are based on demodulation of the signal only.