Browse 3,138 peer-reviewed studies on electromagnetic field health effects from the BioInitiative Report database.
Showing 1,644 studies in Brain & Nervous System
Sakhnini L, Al Ali H, Al Qassab N, Al Arab E, Kamal A. · 2012
Researchers exposed pregnant mice to power line frequency electromagnetic fields for seven days, then tested their babies' motor skills. Mice exposed in the womb showed significant learning deficits compared to unexposed mice, suggesting developing brains are particularly vulnerable to EMF during pregnancy.
Rageh MM, El-Gebaly RH, El-Bialy NS. · 2012
Researchers exposed newborn rats to magnetic fields at 0.5 milliTesla (similar to levels near some power lines) for 30 days and found significant DNA damage in brain cells and bone marrow. The study also detected a four-fold increase in cellular abnormalities and signs of oxidative stress (cellular damage from harmful molecules). This suggests that developing organisms may be particularly vulnerable to magnetic field exposure during critical growth periods.
Rauš S, Selaković V, Radenović L, Prolić Z, Janać B. · 2012
Serbian researchers exposed gerbils with induced stroke-like brain damage to 50 Hz magnetic fields (the same frequency as power lines) for seven days. The magnetic field exposure significantly reduced the hyperactive behavior that typically follows brain injury from lack of blood flow. This suggests that extremely low frequency magnetic fields may influence brain recovery processes after stroke or similar injuries.
Legros A et al. · 2012
Researchers exposed people to 60 Hz magnetic fields (like those from power lines) for one hour. The exposure reduced standing balance and increased hand tremors, suggesting these common electrical frequencies can affect nervous system control of movement without obvious brain changes.
Korpinar MA, Kalkan MT, Tuncel H. · 2012
Researchers exposed rats to 50 Hz magnetic fields (the same frequency as power lines) at 10 milliTesla for 21 days and measured their behavior using standard anxiety tests. The exposed rats showed significantly more anxiety and stress-related behaviors, spending much less time in open, exposed areas compared to unexposed rats. This suggests that prolonged exposure to power-frequency magnetic fields may increase anxiety levels.
Janać B et al. · 2012
Researchers exposed young and older gerbils to 50 Hz magnetic fields (power line frequency) for seven days. Both age groups showed significant changes in movement and activity levels that persisted for days after exposure ended, indicating brain motor centers are sensitive to electromagnetic fields.
Fournier NM, Mach QH, Whissell PD, Persinger MA. · 2012
Researchers exposed pregnant rats to extremely weak magnetic fields (similar to power line levels) throughout pregnancy and found that specific exposure levels caused permanent brain damage in the offspring. The baby rats exposed to low-intensity fields (30-50 nT) developed smaller hippocampus regions and showed impaired learning abilities as adults. Interestingly, both weaker and stronger magnetic field exposures didn't cause these problems, suggesting a narrow 'danger zone' of exposure intensity.
Das S, Kumar S, Jain S, Avelev VD, Mathur R. · 2012
Researchers exposed rats with severed spinal cords to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (50 Hz at 17.96 microTesla) for 2 hours daily over 6 weeks. The magnetic field exposure significantly accelerated recovery of movement, sensation, and bladder control compared to untreated injured rats. This suggests that specific EMF exposures might actually promote nerve healing and functional recovery after spinal cord injuries.
Cui Y, Ge Z, Rizak JD, Zhai C, Zhou Z, Gong S, Che Y. · 2012
Researchers exposed mice to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (the type emitted by power lines and electrical devices) for 4 hours daily and tested their learning abilities. The exposed mice showed significant impairments in both spatial memory and habit formation, along with increased oxidative stress (cellular damage) in key brain regions responsible for learning and memory.
Cho SI et al. · 2012
Researchers exposed rats to 60 Hz magnetic fields (from household electrical systems) for five days and found increased nitric oxide production in key brain regions. This brain chemical affects blood flow and neuron communication, suggesting everyday power-frequency magnetic field exposure may alter fundamental brain chemistry.
Akpinar D, Ozturk N, Ozen S, Agar A, Yargicoglu P. · 2012
Researchers exposed rats to extremely low-frequency electric fields (the type generated by power lines) for one hour daily over two weeks. The exposed animals showed significant damage to brain and retinal tissue, including increased oxidative stress (cellular damage from free radicals) and disrupted visual processing. This suggests that even brief daily exposures to electric fields can harm the nervous system and vision.
Yang XS, He GL, Hao YT, Xiao Y, Chen CH, Zhang GB, Yu ZP. · 2012
Researchers exposed rats to WiFi-frequency radiation (2.45 GHz) for 20 minutes and found it triggered stress responses in brain cells. The radiation caused neurons in the hippocampus to produce heat shock proteins, indicating cellular damage in the brain region responsible for memory and learning.
Spichtig S, Scholkmann F, Chin L, Lehmann H, Wolf M · 2012
Swiss researchers measured brain blood flow in 16 people exposed to 3G cell phone radiation. Even low-level exposure increased blood oxygen levels within 80 seconds, while higher levels also raised heart rate. The changes were small but measurable, showing cell phones can alter brain circulation.
Sokolovic D et al. · 2012
Researchers exposed rats to mobile phone radiation for 4 hours daily over 60 days and found the animals lost significant body weight and developed anxiety-like behaviors including agitation and irritability. When rats were given melatonin (a natural hormone) along with the radiation exposure, these negative effects were largely prevented, suggesting melatonin may offer protective benefits against microwave radiation damage.
Schmid MR et al. · 2012
Researchers exposed 25 healthy men to cell phone-level radio frequency radiation (900 MHz) for 30 minutes before sleep and monitored their brain waves throughout the night. They found that RF exposure altered brain activity patterns during both deep sleep and REM sleep, increasing certain frequencies and changing the normal rhythm of sleep-related brain waves. The study demonstrates that wireless signals can measurably affect brain physiology even after the exposure ends.
Schmid MR et al. · 2012
Researchers exposed 30 men to cell phone radiation before sleep and monitored their brain waves overnight. The radiation increased brain activity during deep sleep, particularly when pulsed at frequencies matching natural brain rhythms, showing cell phones can alter sleep patterns hours after use.
Nittby H et al. · 2012
Swedish researchers exposed land snails to cell phone radiation at 1900 MHz (the same frequency used by many mobile phones) for one hour, then tested their response to painful heat. The radiation-exposed snails showed significantly reduced sensitivity to pain compared to unexposed snails, suggesting the electromagnetic fields had an anesthetic-like effect on their nervous systems.
Nazıroğlu M et al. · 2012
Researchers exposed rats to 2.45 GHz radiation (the same frequency used in WiFi and microwave ovens) for one hour daily over 30 days and found it caused brain damage including increased calcium levels in neurons, oxidative stress, and abnormal brain wave patterns. However, when rats were given melatonin supplements, these harmful effects were significantly reduced, suggesting melatonin may protect against WiFi radiation damage to the brain and nervous system.
Mortazavi SM et al. · 2012
Researchers tested 160 university students to see how 10 minutes of cell phone exposure affected their visual reaction time using a computer test. They found that students responded 9 milliseconds faster after real phone exposure compared to fake exposure, suggesting that cell phone radiation may temporarily sharpen reflexes. The authors suggest this faster reaction time could potentially reduce accidents and human errors.
Megha K et al. · 2012
Researchers exposed rats to cell phone frequency radiation (900 MHz) for 2 hours daily over 30 days and found significant cognitive impairment, brain inflammation, and oxidative stress damage. The rats showed worse memory and learning abilities, along with increased inflammatory markers in their brain tissue. This suggests that chronic exposure to microwave radiation at levels similar to cell phones may harm brain function through cellular damage.
Maskey D, Kim HJ, Kim HG, Kim MJ. · 2012
Researchers exposed mice to cell phone-level radiofrequency radiation (835 MHz) for one month at power levels similar to what phones emit during calls. They found significant damage to brain cells in the hippocampus, the brain region critical for memory and learning, including loss of protective proteins and signs of brain injury that worsened at higher exposure levels.
Lu Y et al. · 2012
Researchers exposed rats to 2.45 GHz microwave radiation (the same frequency used by WiFi and microwave ovens) for 3 hours daily over 30 days at very low power levels. The radiation caused significant memory and learning problems, and the rats' brain cells had trouble absorbing glucose, which is essential for brain function. However, when researchers gave the rats extra glucose, it reversed the memory problems.
Loughran SP, McKenzie RJ, Jackson ML, Howard ME, Croft RJ. · 2012
Australian researchers exposed 20 people to cell phone radiation before sleep and monitored their brain waves. The radiation increased brain activity during deep sleep, but effects varied greatly between individuals. This suggests previous studies may have missed real impacts by averaging results across all participants.
Liu YX et al. · 2012
Researchers exposed rat brain support cells to cell phone radiation at 1950 MHz for 48 hours. The radiation damaged cellular powerhouses and triggered cell death through a specific pathway, though it didn't promote tumors. This suggests prolonged exposure may harm healthy brain cells.
Li Y, Shi C, Lu G, Xu Q, Liu S. · 2012
Researchers exposed rats to cell phone radiation (900 MHz) for two hours daily over one month. The exposed rats showed worse spatial memory in maze tests and had damaged brain cells with fewer neural connections in the hippocampus, suggesting regular phone radiation may impair memory formation.