6,486 Studies Reviewed. 85.2% of Original Studies Found Biological Effects. The Evidence is Clear.
Shield Your Body

Note: This study found no significant biological effects under its experimental conditions. We include all studies for scientific completeness.

Brain & Nervous System

Effects of electromagnetic fields from long-term evolution on awake electroencephalogram in healthy humans

No Effects Found

Nakatani-Enomoto S, Yamazaki M, Nishiura K, Enomoto H, Ugawa Y · 2020

Share:

30-minute LTE phone radiation exposure showed no detectable brain wave changes beyond normal drowsiness effects in healthy adults.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Japanese researchers exposed 38 healthy adults to LTE cell phone radiation for 30 minutes while measuring brain waves (EEG). They found no harmful changes to brain activity patterns compared to fake exposure. Both real and fake exposures caused similar drowsiness-related brain wave changes.

Why This Matters

This study adds to the mixed picture of EMF research on brain function. While the researchers found no detectable harmful effects from 30 minutes of LTE exposure, the study design has important limitations. The exposure duration was relatively short, and the sample size modest for detecting subtle neurological changes. What's particularly interesting is that both real and sham exposures produced similar EEG changes, suggesting that study conditions themselves may influence brain activity. The 2.0 W/kg SAR level used matches current safety limits, making this relevant to everyday phone use. However, this single study shouldn't be viewed as definitive proof of safety. The reality is that brain wave studies show inconsistent results across different research groups, and we need longer-term studies with larger populations to draw firm conclusions about LTE's neurological effects.

Cite This Study
Nakatani-Enomoto S, Yamazaki M, Nishiura K, Enomoto H, Ugawa Y (2020). Effects of electromagnetic fields from long-term evolution on awake electroencephalogram in healthy humans.
Show BibTeX
@article{nakatani_enomoto_s_yamazaki_m_nishiura_k_enomoto_h_ugawa_y_ce3398,
  author = {Nakatani-Enomoto S and Yamazaki M and Nishiura K and Enomoto H and Ugawa Y},
  title = {Effects of electromagnetic fields from long-term evolution on awake electroencephalogram in healthy humans},
  year = {2020},
  doi = {10.1016/j.neures.2020.01.010},
  
}
DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2020.01.010PubMed: 31991204

Quick Questions About This Study

This study found no detectable changes to theta, alpha, or beta brain wave patterns during 30 minutes of LTE exposure at 2.0 W/kg SAR levels. Brain wave changes observed were attributed to normal drowsiness, not radiation effects.
Participants received 30 minutes of LTE-like electromagnetic field exposure while researchers recorded their brain waves. This relatively short exposure duration may not capture longer-term effects that could develop with extended use.
The study used a maximum local SAR of 2.0 W/kg averaged over 10 grams of tissue. This matches current regulatory safety limits for cell phones and represents realistic exposure levels from everyday phone use.
Yes, both real LTE exposure and sham (fake) exposure produced similar increases in theta and alpha brain waves. Researchers attributed these changes to participants becoming drowsy during the recording session, not radiation effects.
This study found no evidence of harmful brain effects from 30 minutes of LTE exposure in healthy adults. However, the short duration and modest sample size limit conclusions about longer-term safety or effects in vulnerable populations.