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Brain & Nervous System138 citations

Pulsed radio-frequency electromagnetic fields: dose-dependent effects on sleep, the sleep EEG and cognitive performance.

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Regel SJ, Tinguely G, Schuderer J, Adam M, Kuster N, Landolt HP, Achermann P · 2007

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Exposing the head to a pulsed GSM-like signal before sleep produced dose-dependent increases in sleep EEG spindle-frequency power and slowed reaction speed at higher field intensities.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed the heads of 15 healthy male subjects for 30 min prior to sleep to a pulse-modulated EMF signal at different intensities or a sham condition, in a double-blind, crossover design. The active exposure levels used peak spatial specific absorption rates of 0.2 W kg–1 and 5 W kg–1. Sleep EEG analysis showed a dose-dependent increase of power in the spindle frequency range in non-REM sleep, while sleep architecture was not affected. Reaction speed slowed with increasing field intensity in the 1-back task, but accuracy in the CRT and N-back tasks was not affected in a dose-dependent manner.

Why This Matters

The study aimed to establish a dose-response relationship between EMF field strength and previously reported effects on the brain. During exposure, subjects performed computerized cognitive tasks presented in a fixed order, including a simple reaction time task, a two-choice reaction time task, and 1-, 2-, and 3-back tasks. Immediately after exposure, sleep was recorded polysomnographically for 8 h. The researchers described their findings as 'first indications' of a dose-response relationship between EMF field intensity and effects on brain physiology. The authors noted that the long-lasting changes in non-REM sleep EEG provide additional support for a non-thermal biological effect of RF EMF exposure.

Exposure Details

SAR
0.2, 5 W/kg
Exposure Duration
30 min

Where This Falls on the Concern Scale

Study Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 0.2, 5 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 8 times higher than this level

Study Details

To establish a dose–response relationship between the strength of electromagnetic fields (EMF) and previously reported effects on the brain, we investigated the influence of EMF exposure by varying the signal intensity in three experimental sessions.

The head of 15 healthy male subjects was unilaterally exposed for 30 min prior to sleep to a pulse‐m...

Analysis of the sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) revealed a dose‐dependent increase of power in the ...

In conclusion, evidence is increasing that RF EMF exposure prior to sleep alters brain activity. Our results suggest a dose–response relationship between GSM exposure and its effects on the non‐REM sleep EEG and cognitive performance. Furthermore, the long‐lasting changes in the non‐REM sleep EEG provide additional support for a non‐thermal biological effect of RF EMF exposure.

Cite This Study
Regel SJ, Tinguely G, Schuderer J, Adam M, Kuster N, Landolt HP, Achermann P (2007). Pulsed radio-frequency electromagnetic fields: dose-dependent effects on sleep, the sleep EEG and cognitive performance. J Sleep Res. 16(3):253-258, 2007.
Show BibTeX
@article{sj_2007_pulsed_radiofrequency_electromagnetic_fields_174,
  author = {Regel SJ and Tinguely G and Schuderer J and Adam M and Kuster N and Landolt HP and Achermann P},
  title = {Pulsed radio-frequency electromagnetic fields: dose-dependent effects on sleep, the sleep EEG and cognitive performance.},
  year = {2007},
  doi = {10.1111/j.1365-2869.2007.00603.x},
  url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1365-2869.2007.00603.x},
}
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2869.2007.00603.x

Cited By (138 papers)

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Quick Questions About This Study

The study enrolled 15 healthy male subjects.
The active conditions used peak spatial specific absorption rates of 0.2 W kg–1 and 5 W kg–1, alongside a sham exposure.
EEG analysis revealed a dose-dependent increase of power in the spindle frequency range in non-REM sleep, while overall sleep architecture was not affected.
Reaction speed slowed with increasing field intensity in the 1-back task, but accuracy in the CRT and N-back tasks was not affected in a dose-dependent manner.
The researchers suggested the long-lasting changes in the non-REM sleep EEG provide additional support for a non-thermal biological effect of RF EMF exposure.