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

Using the nonlinear control of anaesthesia-induced hypersensitivity of EEG at burst suppression level to test the effects of radiofrequency radiation on brain function.

No Effects Found

Lipping T, Rorarius M, Jäntti V, Annala K, Mennander A, Ferenets R, Toivonen T, Toivo T, Värri A, Korpinen L. · 2009

View Original Abstract
Share:

High-level GSM exposure produced no brain electrical changes in hypersensitive anesthetized pigs, but did increase temperature and heart rate.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed anesthetized pigs to GSM mobile phone radiation (890 MHz) to test whether radio frequency signals could trigger brain activity changes detectable in EEG measurements. The study used a highly sensitive testing method where anesthetized animals show exaggerated responses to even minor stimuli. Despite exposure levels of 31 W/kg (much higher than typical phone use), no changes in brain electrical activity were observed, though the animals did experience increased body temperature and heart rate.

Why This Matters

This study represents an interesting approach to EMF brain research, using anesthetized animals in a hypersensitive state where even minor stimuli typically trigger measurable brain responses. The fact that no EEG changes occurred despite extremely high SAR levels (31 W/kg is roughly 15 times higher than typical phone use at 2 W/kg) suggests that GSM radiation may not directly stimulate brain electrical activity through sensory pathways. However, the observed temperature increase of 1.6°C and elevated heart rate indicate clear physiological responses to the exposure. The reality is that this single study, while methodologically sound, represents just one piece of the larger EMF research puzzle. What this means for you is that while this particular measure of brain sensitivity showed no response, the cardiovascular changes remind us that high-level RF exposure does produce measurable biological effects.

Exposure Details

SAR
31 W/kg
Source/Device
890 MHz GSM Mobile Phine
Exposure Duration
10 minute continuous exposure

Exposure Context

This study used 31 W/kg for SAR (device absorption):

Building Biology guidelines are practitioner-based limits from real-world assessments. BioInitiative Report recommendations are based on peer-reviewed science. Check Your Exposure to compare your own measurements.

Where This Falls on the Concern Scale

Study Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 31 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)This level is 19 times the FCC limit
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 890 MHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 890 MHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

To investigate by using the nonlinear control of anaesthesia-induced hypersensitivity of EEG at burst suppression level to test the effects of radiofrequency radiation on brain function

In this study, investigating the effects of mobile phone radiation on test animals, eleven pigs were...

No correlation between the exposure and the EEG burst occurrences was observed in phase I measuremen...

The hypothesis that RF radiation would produce sensory stimulation of somatosensory, auditory or visual system or directly affect the brain so as to produce EEG bursts during suppression was not confirmed.

Cite This Study
Lipping T, Rorarius M, Jäntti V, Annala K, Mennander A, Ferenets R, Toivonen T, Toivo T, Värri A, Korpinen L. (2009). Using the nonlinear control of anaesthesia-induced hypersensitivity of EEG at burst suppression level to test the effects of radiofrequency radiation on brain function. Nonlinear Biomed Phys. 3(1):5, 2009.
Show BibTeX
@article{t_2009_using_the_nonlinear_control_2781,
  author = {Lipping T and Rorarius M and Jäntti V and Annala K and Mennander A and Ferenets R and Toivonen T and Toivo T and Värri A and Korpinen L.},
  title = {Using the nonlinear control of anaesthesia-induced hypersensitivity of EEG at burst suppression level to test the effects of radiofrequency radiation on brain function.},
  year = {2009},
  doi = {10.1186/1753-4631-3-5},
  url = {https://nonlinearbiomedphys.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1753-4631-3-5},
}
DOI: 10.1186/1753-4631-3-5

Cited By (6 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

No, a 2009 study found that 890 MHz GSM radiation at 31 W/kg did not trigger any brain activity changes in anesthetized pigs. Despite using highly sensitive EEG monitoring during burst suppression anesthesia, researchers observed no correlation between radiation exposure and brain electrical activity patterns.
Research using 31 W/kg exposure levels (far higher than normal phone use) found no effect on EEG burst patterns in anesthetized pigs. The study specifically tested whether radiofrequency radiation could stimulate sensory systems or directly affect brain activity, but confirmed no such effects occurred.
During 10-minute exposures to 890 MHz GSM radiation at 31 W/kg, anesthetized pigs experienced an average subcutaneous head temperature increase of 1.6°C and heart rate increase of 14.2 beats per minute. However, no corresponding brain electrical activity changes were detected.
A controlled study using anesthetized pigs found that 890 MHz GSM radiation does not stimulate somatosensory, auditory, or visual brain systems. Despite testing at exposure levels of 31 W/kg, researchers detected no sensory system activation or direct brain stimulation effects.
No, even under burst suppression anesthesia where brains show heightened sensitivity to minor stimuli, 890 MHz GSM radiation produced no detectable effects. This 2009 pig study used this hypersensitive state specifically to test for subtle radiofrequency effects on brain function.