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

Radiofrequency signal affects alpha band in resting electroencephalogram.

Bioeffects Seen

Ghosn R, Yahia-Cherif L, Hugueville L, Ducorps A, Lemarechal JD, Thuroczy G, de Seze R, Selmaoui B. · 2015

View Original Abstract
Share:

Mobile phone radiation significantly reduces alpha brain waves during and after exposure, potentially affecting cognitive function and relaxation.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed 26 healthy young adults to radiofrequency signals from a mobile phone while measuring their brain activity using EEG (electroencephalogram). They found that RF exposure significantly reduced alpha brain waves (8-12 Hz), which are associated with relaxed, alert states, and this effect persisted even after the exposure ended. The study carefully controlled for other factors like stress hormones and caffeine that could influence brain activity.

Why This Matters

This research adds important evidence to our understanding of how mobile phone radiation directly affects brain function in real-time. Alpha waves are crucial for cognitive performance, attention, and relaxation - when they're suppressed, it can impact your ability to think clearly and feel calm. What makes this study particularly significant is that the effects persisted after exposure ended, suggesting the brain doesn't immediately return to normal once the RF signal stops. The researchers used rigorous controls to rule out other explanations, strengthening confidence in their findings. While we don't know the exact exposure levels used, this study demonstrates that typical mobile phone emissions can measurably alter your brain's electrical activity patterns.

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 12 Hz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 12 HzPower lines50/60 HzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. The study examined exposure from: 8-12 Hz

Study Details

The aim of the present work was to investigate the effects of the radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on human resting EEG with a control of some parameters that are known to affect alpha band, such as electrode impedance, salivary cortisol, and caffeine.

Eyes-open and eyes-closed resting EEG data were recorded in 26 healthy young subjects under two cond...

Compared with the sham session, the exposure session showed a statistically significant (P < 0.0001)...

These results suggest that GSM-EMFs of a mobile phone affect the alpha band within spectral power of resting human EEG.

Cite This Study
Ghosn R, Yahia-Cherif L, Hugueville L, Ducorps A, Lemarechal JD, Thuroczy G, de Seze R, Selmaoui B. (2015). Radiofrequency signal affects alpha band in resting electroencephalogram. J Neurophysiol. 2015 Feb 18:jn.00765.2014. doi: 10.1152/jn.00765.2014.
Show BibTeX
@article{r_2015_radiofrequency_signal_affects_alpha_2112,
  author = {Ghosn R and Yahia-Cherif L and Hugueville L and Ducorps A and Lemarechal JD and Thuroczy G and de Seze R and Selmaoui B.},
  title = {Radiofrequency signal affects alpha band in resting electroencephalogram.},
  year = {2015},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25695646/},
}
PubMed: 25695646

Cited By (52 papers)

View all 52 citing papers on Semantic Scholar

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, mobile phone radiation significantly reduces alpha brain waves (8-12 Hz) during rest. A 2015 study found GSM exposure decreased alpha wave power by a statistically significant amount (P < 0.0001) in 26 healthy adults, and this effect persisted even after exposure ended.
Cell phone signals can alter EEG brain patterns by reducing alpha wave activity. Research using electroencephalogram monitoring showed radiofrequency exposure from mobile phones significantly decreased alpha band spectral power during closed-eyes resting conditions in healthy young adults.
Brain wave changes from phone exposure persist beyond the actual exposure period. The 2015 Ghosn study found that reduced alpha brain wave activity continued during the post-exposure session, indicating the effects don't immediately return to normal when exposure stops.
Phone radiation can disrupt relaxed brain states by reducing alpha waves associated with calm, alert conditions. The study measured brain activity during closed-eyes rest (similar to meditation) and found significant decreases in alpha wave power after GSM radiofrequency exposure.
Brain wave effects from phones aren't caused by stress hormones or caffeine. Researchers carefully controlled for salivary cortisol and caffeine levels, finding no significant changes in these factors, confirming the alpha wave reductions were directly related to radiofrequency exposure.