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Effects of A 60 Hz Magnetic Field of Up to 50 milliTesla on Human Tremor and EEG: A Pilot Study.

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Davarpanah Jazi S, Modolo J, Baker C, Villard S, Legros A. · 2017

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A 60 Hz magnetic field had no significant effect on physiological tremor or overall motor control, though a subtle effect on mu-rhythm amplitude was observed.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Ten healthy volunteers were exposed to 11 MF conditions (60 Hz, 0 to 50 mTrms, 5 mTrms increments) while physiological tremor and EEG from motor and somatosensory brain regions were measured. Exposure had no significant effect on any physiological tremor characteristics, and no significant EEG effects were observed for electrodes C1, C3, C5 and CP1. At electrodes CP3 and CP5, a decreased mu-rhythm spectral power with increasing MF flux density was suggested, but this was not confirmed by Bonferroni corrected pairwise comparisons.

Why This Matters

The researchers focused on the cortical mu-rhythm (8-12 Hz) because it originates from the primary motor cortex and is related to physiological tremor, leading to the hypothesis that a 60 Hz magnetic field could acutely modulate human physiological tremor. The study used 11 exposure levels ranging from 0 to 50 mTrms in 5 mTrms increments, allowing researchers to look for a pattern linked to increasing field strength. Overall, considering both EEG and tremor findings, no effect of the magnetic field exposure on human motor control was observed. The authors note that current findings should be considered with caution because of the small size of this pilot work. The authors describe the results as providing preliminary insights for international agencies establishing guidelines regarding electromagnetic field exposure.

Exposure Details

Magnetic Field
0 - 50 mT
Source/Device
60 Hz

Where This Falls on the Concern Scale

Study Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextExtreme Concern - 5 mGFCC Limit - 2,000 mG
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 60 Hz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 60 HzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

The present pilot study examined possible extremely low frequency (ELF) MF effects on human neuromotor control in general, and physiological postural tremor and electroencephalography (EEG) in particular.

Since the EEG cortical mu-rhythm (8-12 Hz) from the primary motor cortex and physiological tremor ar...

Results showed no significant main effect of MF exposure conditions on any of the analyzed physiolog...

Current findings are to be considered with caution due to the small size of this pilot work, but they provide preliminary insights to international agencies establishing guidelines regarding electromagnetic field exposure with new experimental data acquired in humans exposed to high mT-range MFs.

Cite This Study
Davarpanah Jazi S, Modolo J, Baker C, Villard S, Legros A. (2017). Effects of A 60 Hz Magnetic Field of Up to 50 milliTesla on Human Tremor and EEG: A Pilot Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2017 Nov 24;14(12). pii: E1446. doi: 10.3390/ijerph14121446.
Show BibTeX
@article{s_2017_effects_of_a_60_627,
  author = {Davarpanah Jazi S and Modolo J and Baker C and Villard S and Legros A.},
  title = {Effects of A 60 Hz Magnetic Field of Up to 50 milliTesla on Human Tremor and EEG: A Pilot Study.},
  year = {2017},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29186760/},
}
PubMed: 29186760

Cited By (11 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

The study tested 11 magnetic field conditions at 60 Hz, ranging from 0 to 50 mTrms in 5 mTrms increments.
There was no significant main effect of magnetic field exposure on any of the analyzed physiological tremor characteristics.
A decreased mu-rhythm spectral power with increasing flux density was suggested at electrodes CP3 and CP5, but this was not confirmed by Bonferroni corrected pairwise comparisons.
Ten healthy volunteers with a mean age of 23.8 years participated.
Considering both EEG and tremor findings, the researchers observed no effect of magnetic field exposure on human motor control.