Effects of single- and hybrid-frequency extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field stimulations on long-term potentiation in the hippocampal Schaffer collateral pathway.
Zheng Y, Ma XX, Dong L, Gao Y, Tian L. · 2019
View Original Abstract15 Hz magnetic fields at 1 milliTesla significantly disrupted brain cell communication in lab studies, with single frequencies showing stronger effects than mixed frequencies.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed rat brain tissue to 15 Hz magnetic fields at medical device levels to study effects on brain connections. The magnetic fields significantly disrupted normal brain signaling that supports learning and memory, showing common electromagnetic frequencies can interfere with basic brain functions.
Why This Matters
This study provides direct evidence that extremely low-frequency magnetic fields can disrupt fundamental brain processes at the cellular level. The researchers used a 1 milliTesla field strength, which is comparable to what you might encounter near some household appliances or power lines at very close range. What makes this research particularly significant is that it demonstrates frequency-specific effects - lower frequencies like 15 Hz produced more pronounced disruption of synaptic plasticity than higher frequencies. The science demonstrates that when multiple frequencies were combined, the disruptive effects were actually reduced, suggesting that single-frequency exposures may be more biologically active than the complex mixed-frequency environments we typically encounter. What this means for you is that ELF magnetic fields aren't just theoretical concerns - they can measurably alter how brain cells communicate, which forms the foundation of learning, memory, and cognitive function.
Exposure Details
- Magnetic Field
- 1 mG
- Source/Device
- 15 Hz
Exposure Context
This study used 1 mG for magnetic fields:
- 50Kx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.2 mG
- 10Kx above the BioInitiative Report recommendation of 1 mG
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 Details
To study the different effects of single- and hybrid-frequency magnetic fields on long-term potentiation (LTP) in synaptic plasticity.
Based on the online electromagnetic field stimulation system and field excitatory postsynaptic poten...
The amplitude of fEPSPs decreased significantly under both single- and hybrid-frequency magnetic sti...
Single-frequency magnetic stimulation produces more significant regulatory effects, and the lower the frequency, the more significant the regulatory effect. The effect of hybrid-frequency magnetic stimulation in each group was similar, and there was no significant difference between each group. The 15-Hz single-frequency magnetic stimulation group showed the most significant regulatory effect, but once it was mixed with other higher frequency magnetic stimulation, its regulation effect was significantly weakened.
Show BibTeX
@article{y_2019_effects_of_single_and_739,
author = {Zheng Y and Ma XX and Dong L and Gao Y and Tian L.},
title = {Effects of single- and hybrid-frequency extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field stimulations on long-term potentiation in the hippocampal Schaffer collateral pathway.},
year = {2019},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31140893/},
}