Browse 3,138 peer-reviewed studies on electromagnetic field health effects from the BioInitiative Report database.
Showing 1,644 studies in Brain & Nervous System
Salunke BP, Umathe SN, Chavan JG · 2014
Researchers exposed mice to 50 Hz magnetic fields (power line frequency) for 8 hours daily and found it caused obsessive-compulsive behaviors. The exposure increased nitric oxide in brain regions controlling behavior, suggesting this chemical pathway explains how magnetic fields can affect mental health.
Salunke BP, Umathe SN, Chavan JG. · 2014
Researchers exposed mice to 50 Hz magnetic fields (the same frequency as household electricity) for up to 120 days and measured anxiety-like behaviors. The magnetic field exposure significantly increased anxiety in the animals, and the researchers identified that this effect occurred through changes in NMDA receptors in the brain. The study provides biological evidence that long-term exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields can alter brain chemistry and behavior.
Reale M et al. · 2014
Researchers exposed human brain cells to 50 Hz electromagnetic fields (the type from power lines) for up to 24 hours and found the cells produced more harmful molecules called free radicals and nitric oxide. While the cells initially tried to defend themselves by boosting antioxidant activity, this protection failed when the cells faced additional stress, leading to cellular damage that could contribute to brain diseases like Alzheimer's.
Rauš Balind S, Selaković V, Radenović L, Prolić Z, Janać B. · 2014
Researchers exposed stroke-damaged gerbils to power line frequency magnetic fields for seven days. While initially increasing brain stress, the magnetic field exposure ultimately protected against stroke damage, returning brain stress markers to normal levels by day fourteen, suggesting potential therapeutic benefits.
Murugan NJ, Persinger MA. · 2014
Researchers exposed flatworms (planaria) to extremely weak magnetic fields (5 microTesla) for 2 hours and measured their movement speed. The magnetic field exposure reduced the worms' activity by about 50%, similar to the effects of morphine and other opioid drugs. This suggests that weak magnetic fields can affect nervous system function in ways that mimic drug effects.
Manikonda PK et al. · 2014
Researchers exposed young rats to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (the type emitted by power lines and household appliances) for 90 days and found significant oxidative stress damage throughout their brains. The damage was dose-dependent, meaning higher magnetic field levels caused more harm, and affected different brain regions differently. This suggests that chronic exposure to these common magnetic fields may disrupt normal brain function by overwhelming the brain's natural defense systems.
Mahdavi SM, Sahraei H, Yaghmaei P, Tavakoli H. · 2014
Researchers exposed rats to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (1 and 5 Hz) for 21 days and measured changes in stress hormones and behavior. They found that these EMF exposures altered key stress hormones - increasing ACTH while decreasing noradrenaline - and changed glucose levels differently depending on frequency. The study demonstrates that even very low frequency electromagnetic fields can disrupt the body's stress response system.
Li Y, Yan X, Liu J, Li L, Hu X, Sun H, Tian J. · 2014
Researchers exposed newborn rat nerve cells to 50 Hz electromagnetic fields for two hours and found increased production of BDNF, a protein essential for nerve growth and brain health. The fields activated specific calcium channels and cellular pathways, demonstrating how electromagnetic exposure directly influences nerve cell function and brain development.
Li C, Xie M, Luo F, He C, Wang J, Tan G, Hu Z. · 2014
Researchers exposed rats to 50 Hz magnetic fields for up to 28 days and found the exposure altered brain receptor proteins in multiple regions. Despite these measurable brain chemistry changes, the rats showed no problems with spatial learning or memory, suggesting functional abilities remained intact.
Komaki A, Khalili A, Salehi I, Shahidi S, Sarihi A. · 2014
Researchers exposed rats to power line frequency electromagnetic fields (50 Hz) for 90 days and found it enhanced the brain's ability to form memories in the hippocampus. This suggests chronic EMF exposure can alter fundamental brain functions, though long-term health implications remain unknown.
Kantar Gok D et al. · 2014
Researchers exposed rats to electric fields like those near power lines for up to four weeks. Higher intensity, longer exposures significantly impaired the brain's ability to detect sound changes, a function essential for learning and attention, while causing oxidative brain damage.
Hernádi L, László JF. · 2014
Researchers exposed snails to a static magnetic field (147 mT) for 30 minutes and tested how quickly they responded to heat on a hot plate. The magnetic field exposure significantly slowed the snails' pain responses by up to 47%, suggesting the magnetic field affected their nervous system's ability to process pain signals through serotonin and opioid pathways.
Giorgi G et al. · 2014
Italian researchers exposed human brain cells to power line frequency magnetic fields (50 Hz) while simultaneously stressing them with hydrogen peroxide. Over 72 hours, the magnetic field exposure did not increase DNA damage beyond what the chemical stress alone caused, suggesting power-frequency fields may not worsen cellular damage.
Duan Y, Wang Z, Zhang H, He Y, Fan R, Cheng Y, Sun G, Sun X. · 2014
Researchers exposed mice to 50 Hz electromagnetic fields (the same frequency used in power lines) for 4 hours daily over 28 days and found significant cognitive impairment and brain chemistry changes. The EMF exposure disrupted critical brain chemicals like glutamate and damaged important cellular pathways involved in memory formation. However, treatment with natural antioxidants from lotus seeds reversed these harmful effects, suggesting the brain damage was preventable.
Dimitrijević D, Savić T, Anđelković M, Prolić Z, Janać B. · 2014
Scientists exposed fruit flies to 50 Hz magnetic fields (power line frequency) and found the fields reduced adult fly movement and activity, regardless of when exposure occurred. This demonstrates that common electrical frequencies can alter nervous system function in living organisms.
Alsaeed I et al. · 2014
Researchers exposed pregnant mice and their newborn pups to 50 Hz magnetic fields (the same frequency as household electrical systems) during critical developmental periods. The exposed male mice later showed autism-like behaviors, including reduced social interaction and less interest in exploring new social situations, while their movement, coordination, and other basic functions remained normal. This suggests that magnetic field exposure during early brain development might contribute to autism spectrum disorders.
Yilmaz A et al. · 2014
Turkish researchers exposed rats to mobile phone radiation at levels similar to everyday phone use for 4 weeks, then examined brain tissue for signs of programmed cell death (apoptosis). The exposed rats showed significantly increased levels of proteins that trigger cell death compared to unexposed controls. This suggests that mobile phone radiation may cause brain cells to die prematurely, even at the low power levels typical of normal phone use.
Wang H et al. · 2014
Researchers exposed rats to microwave radiation at 2.856 GHz for six minutes and monitored them for 18 months. The rats developed persistent learning and memory problems plus brain damage in memory centers, suggesting brief microwave exposure can cause lasting cognitive harm.
Schneider J, Stangassinger M · 2014
German researchers exposed rats to cell phone radiation (900 MHz GSM and 1.966 GHz UMTS) for their entire lives and tested their memory using a social recognition task. Male rats showed significant memory impairments, particularly when exposed to GSM frequencies, while female rats were unaffected. This suggests that chronic exposure to cell phone radiation at levels similar to what phones emit can damage memory function in a sex-specific way.
Razavinasab M, Moazzami K, Shabani M · 2014
Pregnant rats exposed to 900 MHz cell phone radiation for six hours daily produced offspring with altered brain cell activity and impaired memory performance. The rat pups showed decreased neuron firing and worse learning test results, suggesting prenatal phone radiation exposure may affect developing brain function.
Qin F, Yuan H, Nie J, Cao Y, Tong J · 2014
Researchers exposed mice to cell phone radiation (1800 MHz) for 30 days and found that 2-hour daily exposures significantly impaired learning and memory performance. The study also tested whether nano-selenium supplements could protect against these cognitive effects, finding that the supplement did help preserve brain function in radiation-exposed mice.
Qiao S et al. · 2014
Researchers exposed rats to microwave radiation for 5 minutes and found it impaired their spatial memory and learning abilities. The study revealed that this cognitive damage occurred because the radiation disrupted a key brain protein (phosphorylated synapsin I) that helps release GABA, a crucial neurotransmitter for brain function. This suggests that even brief microwave exposure can interfere with the brain's chemical communication system, potentially affecting memory and learning.
Pelletier A et al. · 2014
French researchers exposed young rats to cell phone radiation (900 MHz) for five weeks. The exposed rats slept 15.5% longer and preferred warmer temperatures than unexposed rats, suggesting radiofrequency radiation disrupts natural temperature control and sleep patterns.
Narayanan SN, Kumar RS, Kedage V, Nalini K, Nayak S, Bhat PG · 2014
Researchers exposed adolescent rats to cell phone radiation (900 MHz) for one hour daily over four weeks and found significant oxidative stress throughout the brain. The radiation increased harmful cellular damage markers and decreased protective antioxidants in key brain regions including the hippocampus, amygdala, and cerebellum. These biochemical changes coincided with altered behavioral performance, suggesting that cell phone radiation may impair brain function through oxidative damage.
Motawi TK, Darwish HA, Moustafa YM, Labib MM. · 2014
Scientists exposed rats to mobile phone radiation (900 MHz) for 2 hours daily over 60 days. Both young and adult rats showed significant brain damage, including cellular stress and activated cell death pathways. Young rats were particularly affected, suggesting mobile phone exposure may harm developing brains.