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[Effect of modified SHF and acoustic stimulation on spectral characteristics of the electroencephalograms of the cat brain]

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Ivanova VIu, Martynova OV, Aleinik SV, Limarenko AV. · 2000

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EMF exposure at everyday wireless device levels measurably altered cat brain wave patterns, suggesting our wireless environment may be continuously affecting neural function.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Russian scientists exposed cats to 980 MHz electromagnetic fields and monitored their brain waves. The EMF exposure shifted brain activity patterns from high frequencies to lower ones, mimicking effects of sound stimulation. This suggests electromagnetic fields may affect the brain through the same pathways as acoustic signals.

Why This Matters

This study provides compelling evidence that radiofrequency EMF exposure directly alters brain wave patterns at relatively low power densities. The 30-50 microW/cm² exposure level used here is well within the range of everyday wireless device emissions, making these findings particularly relevant for understanding how our constant EMF environment may be affecting neural function. What makes this research especially significant is the discovery that EMF appears to trigger brain responses through acoustic sensory pathways, potentially explaining why some people report hearing sounds or experiencing auditory sensations when exposed to certain EMF sources. The science demonstrates that even at these modest exposure levels, electromagnetic fields can measurably change how the brain operates, shifting fundamental electrical activity patterns that govern everything from attention to sleep.

Exposure Details

Power Density
3- 5 µW/m²
Source/Device
980 MHz

Exposure Context

This study used 3- 5 µW/m² for radio frequency:

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 ContextA logarithmic scale showing exposure levels relative to Building Biology concern thresholds and regulatory limits.Study Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 3- 5 µW/m²Extreme Concern1,000 uW/m2FCC Limit10M uW/m2Effects observed in the Slight Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 3,333,333x higher than this exposure level

Study Details

The effect of modulated electromagnetic fields on the spectral parameters of bioelectric brain activity in awake cats was studied by registering the electroencephalogram from the skin surface in the vertex area using carbon electrodes

In the normal electroencephalogram, spectral components in the range above 20 Hz predominated. It wa...

The results suggest that there is a a common neurophysiological mechanism by which modulated electro...

Cite This Study
Ivanova VIu, Martynova OV, Aleinik SV, Limarenko AV. (2000). [Effect of modified SHF and acoustic stimulation on spectral characteristics of the electroencephalograms of the cat brain] Biofizika. 45(5):935-940, 2000.
Show BibTeX
@article{viu_2000_effect_of_modified_shf_1042,
  author = {Ivanova VIu and Martynova OV and Aleinik SV and Limarenko AV.},
  title = {[Effect of modified SHF and acoustic stimulation on spectral characteristics of the electroencephalograms of the cat brain]},
  year = {2000},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11094726/},
}

Quick Questions About This Study

Russian scientists exposed cats to 980 MHz electromagnetic fields and monitored their brain waves. The EMF exposure shifted brain activity patterns from high frequencies to lower ones, mimicking effects of sound stimulation. This suggests electromagnetic fields may affect the brain through the same pathways as acoustic signals.