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Some Effects on Human Subjects of Ultra-High-Frequency Radiation

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Allan H. Frey · 1963

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Frey's 1963 study first documented that RF radiation can directly stimulate human auditory perception, establishing the biological basis for electromagnetic field effects.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

This 1963 study by Allan Frey examined how ultra-high-frequency electromagnetic radiation affects humans, particularly focusing on sound perception and acoustic effects. The research investigated whether RF radiation could produce auditory sensations in human subjects. This was among the earliest documented studies of what became known as the 'microwave auditory effect' or 'Frey effect.'

Why This Matters

This groundbreaking 1963 research represents a pivotal moment in EMF science, documenting the first systematic investigation of the microwave auditory effect in humans. Frey's work demonstrated that electromagnetic energy could directly stimulate auditory perception without sound waves, a phenomenon that challenged conventional understanding of how the nervous system responds to RF radiation. The reality is that this research opened an entirely new field of inquiry into how electromagnetic fields interact with human biology at the cellular and neurological level.

What makes this study particularly significant is its timing. Published six decades ago, when wireless technology was in its infancy, Frey's findings anticipated many of the biological effects we're still studying today as billions of people carry RF-emitting devices. The science demonstrates that human tissue can act as a receiver for electromagnetic energy, converting RF signals into perceivable biological responses. This foundational work laid the groundwork for understanding how modern wireless technologies might affect human health through direct electromagnetic interaction with our nervous systems.

Figures from the Original Paper

Diagram extracted from the original research document.

graphPage 4 - Figure 1: Threshold energy as a function of frequency of RF energy.
p. 4 of the original PDF

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 300 MHz to 3 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 300 MHz to 3 GHzPower lines50/60 HzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Study Details

To acquaint clinicians with the phenomena of human auditory system response to ultra-high-frequency radiation and to investigate possible cardiac effects.

The transmitters used sampled the entire UHF band (300 to 3,000 me. per second). Various possible an...

The RF sound has been described as being a buzz, ticking, hiss or knocking, depending upon several t...

Ultra-high frequency radiation can induce effects at average power densities below the currently accepted hazard limit of 10 mw./cm². The perception of sound can be induced in human subjects and the possibility of an effect on the heart was indicated. The sensitive area for detecting RF sounds is a region over the temporal lobe of the brain. The detection mechanism may be in the brain, cochlea, or possibly multiple sites. Cardiac effects were observed in animal studies, though further research is needed to determine practical significance.

Cite This Study
Allan H. Frey (1963). Some Effects on Human Subjects of Ultra-High-Frequency Radiation.
Show BibTeX
@article{some_effects_on_human_subjects_of_ultra_high_frequency_radiation_g6671,
  author = {Allan H. Frey},
  title = {Some Effects on Human Subjects of Ultra-High-Frequency Radiation},
  year = {1963},
  
  
}
No DOI on file for this study.

Quick Questions About This Study

The Frey effect, named after researcher Allan Frey, describes the phenomenon where ultra-high-frequency electromagnetic radiation can create auditory sensations in humans without actual sound waves. This discovery showed that RF energy can directly stimulate the auditory system through electromagnetic interaction with brain tissue.
The study found that ultra-high-frequency electromagnetic radiation could produce acoustic sensations in human subjects, essentially allowing people to 'hear' electromagnetic energy. This demonstrated that RF radiation could directly interact with the nervous system to create perceivable biological effects without traditional sound transmission.
This research was groundbreaking because it provided the first systematic evidence that electromagnetic fields could directly affect human biology and nervous system function. It challenged the prevailing belief that non-ionizing radiation was biologically inert and established a new field of EMF bioeffects research.
Yes, Frey's research demonstrated that electromagnetic energy can be converted to perceivable acoustic sensations within human tissue. This conversion process occurs through direct electromagnetic stimulation of auditory pathways, bypassing normal sound wave transmission through the ear canal and middle ear.
The study revealed that RF radiation can produce direct biological effects in humans, specifically demonstrating that electromagnetic fields can stimulate sensory perception. This finding established that human tissue could act as a receiver for electromagnetic energy, fundamentally changing scientific understanding of EMF biointeraction.