3,138 Studies Reviewed. 77.4% Found Biological Effects. The Evidence is Clear.

EMF Research Studies

Browse 3,138 peer-reviewed studies on electromagnetic field health effects from the BioInitiative Report database.

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Showing 1,644 studies in Brain & Nervous System

Cardiovascular100 citations

The influence of the call with a mobile phone on heart rate variability parameters in healthy volunteers.

Andrzejak R et al. · 2008

Researchers monitored 32 healthy students' heart rhythms during 20-minute cell phone calls, measuring heart rate variability (how much your heart rate naturally fluctuates between beats). They found that phone calls significantly changed the participants' autonomic nervous system balance, increasing parasympathetic activity (the 'rest and digest' system) while decreasing sympathetic activity (the 'fight or flight' system). These changes returned to normal after the call ended, suggesting that cell phone radiation may directly affect the nervous system's control of heart function.

Anxiogenic effect of chronic exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic field in adult rats.

Liu T, Wang S, He L, Ye K. · 2008

Researchers exposed adult rats to extremely low frequency magnetic fields for either 1 hour or 4 hours daily over 25 days, then tested their anxiety levels using standard behavioral tests. The study found that 4-hour daily exposure significantly increased anxiety-like behaviors in the rats, while 1-hour exposure had no effect. This suggests that prolonged daily exposure to ELF magnetic fields may contribute to anxiety disorders.

Long-term exposure to extremely low-frequency magnetic fields impairs spatial recognition memory in mice.

Fu Y, Wang C, Wang J, Lei Y, Ma Y. · 2008

Chinese researchers exposed mice to extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (the same type emitted by power lines and household appliances) for either 7 or 25 days, then tested their spatial memory using a maze. While short-term exposure had no effect, mice exposed to 50 Hz fields for 25 days showed impaired ability to recognize new areas in the maze. This suggests that chronic exposure to power-frequency magnetic fields may interfere with spatial memory and navigation abilities.

The effect of GSM-like ELF radiation on the alpha band of the human resting EEG.

Perentos N, Croft RJ, McKenzie RJ, Cvetkovic D, Cosic I. · 2008

Researchers exposed 72 healthy volunteers to extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic fields similar to those emitted by GSM cell phones for 20 minutes while monitoring their brain waves. They found that the alpha brain wave activity decreased specifically in the hemisphere of the brain closest to the exposure source. This suggests that the low-frequency electromagnetic fields from mobile phones can directly alter normal brain activity patterns even during rest.

. The spectral power coherence of the EEG under different EMF conditions.

Hountala CD et al. · 2008

Researchers studied how cell phone frequencies (900 MHz and 1800 MHz) affect brain wave coordination patterns during a memory task. They found that RF radiation changed how different brain wave frequencies work together, with effects varying between men and women. The study suggests that cell phone radiation can alter fundamental brain activity patterns even during cognitive tasks.

Melatonin reduces oxidative stress induced by chronic exposure of microwave radiation from mobile phones in rat brain.

Sokolovic D et al. · 2008

Researchers exposed rats to mobile phone radiation at levels similar to human exposure for up to 60 days and found significant brain damage from oxidative stress - essentially, cellular damage from harmful molecules. When rats were given melatonin (a natural hormone), it partially protected their brains from this radiation damage. This suggests that mobile phone radiation can harm brain cells through oxidative stress, and that melatonin might offer some protection.

Nonthermal effects of radiofrequency-field exposure on calcium dynamics in stem cell-derived neuronal cells: elucidation of calcium pathways.

Rao VS et al. · 2008

Mouse brain cells exposed to cell phone-like radiofrequency radiation showed dramatically altered calcium signaling, with three times more calcium spikes than unexposed cells. This matters because calcium controls critical brain cell functions including growth, development, and communication between neurons.

Exposure to radiation from global system for mobile communications at 1,800 MHz significantly changes gene expression in rat hippocampus and cortex.

Nittby H et al. · 2008

Researchers exposed rats to cell phone radiation at 1,800 MHz for 6 hours and found significant changes in brain gene activity. The genetic alterations affected genes controlling cell membranes and cellular communication in the cortex and hippocampus, the same brain regions where previous studies documented blood-brain barrier damage.

Mercury release from dental amalgam restorations after magnetic resonance imaging and following mobile phone use

Mortazavi SM et al. · 2008

Researchers tested whether electromagnetic fields from MRI machines and mobile phones increase mercury release from dental fillings. They found that 30-minute MRI exposure increased mercury levels in saliva by 31%, and mobile phone use significantly increased mercury in urine compared to controls. This suggests that common EMF exposures may accelerate the release of toxic mercury from dental amalgam fillings.

Effect of chronic intermittent exposure to AM radiofrequency field on responses to various types of noxious stimuli in growing rats.

Mathur R · 2008

Researchers exposed growing rats to AM radio frequency fields (similar to some communication systems) for 2 hours daily over 45 days and tested their pain responses. The exposed rats showed altered pain processing - they became more emotionally reactive to short-term pain but less sensitive to long-term pain. This suggests that chronic RF exposure during development can rewire how the nervous system processes different types of pain signals.

Apoptosis is Induced by Radiofrequency Fields through the Caspase-Independent Mitochondrial Pathway in Cortical Neurons.

Joubert V, Bourthoumieu S, Leveque P, Yardin C. · 2008

French researchers exposed rat brain cells to cell phone-level radiofrequency radiation (900 MHz at 2 W/kg SAR) for 24 hours and found it triggered programmed cell death through a specific cellular pathway. The brain cells died at rates significantly higher than control groups, even when accounting for the slight temperature increase from the radiation. This suggests that RF radiation can damage neurons through mechanisms beyond just heating effects.

Effect of low frequency modulated microwave exposure on human EEG: individual sensitivity.

Hinrikus H, Bachmann M, Lass J, Karai D, Tuulik V. · 2008

Researchers exposed 66 healthy volunteers to low-level microwave radiation at various frequencies and measured their brain activity using EEG. They found that microwave exposure increased brain energy levels, with 13-31% of subjects showing significant changes in their brain wave patterns depending on the frequency used. The study demonstrates that microwave radiation can alter normal brain function even at exposure levels considered safe by current standards.

Blood-brain barrier permeability and nerve cell damage in rat brain 14 and 28 days after exposure to microwaves from GSM mobile phones.

Eberhardt JL, Persson BR, Brun AE, Salford LG, Malmgren LO. · 2008

Swedish researchers exposed rats to cell phone radiation at 900 MHz for 2 hours and examined their brains 14 and 28 days later. They found that the radiation compromised the blood-brain barrier (the protective shield around the brain) and caused nerve cell damage. The blood-brain barrier leaked proteins into brain tissue within 14 days, while actual nerve cell death appeared after 28 days.

Psychomotor performance is not influenced by brief repeated exposures to mobile phones.

Curcio G et al. · 2008

Researchers exposed 24 people to cell phone radiation (902.40 MHz at 0.5 W/kg SAR) for three 15-minute sessions and tested their reaction times and finger coordination after each exposure. They found no statistically significant effects on these motor skills, though there was a slight trend toward faster reaction times. The study suggests that brief, repeated cell phone exposures don't appear to impair basic motor performance.

Effect of head-only sub-chronic and chronic exposure to 900-MHz GSM electromagnetic fields on spatial memory in rats.

Ammari M et al. · 2008

French researchers exposed rats to 900-MHz cell phone radiation for up to 24 weeks to test whether it would impair their spatial memory and navigation abilities. The rats showed no memory deficits even when exposed to radiation levels 3-12 times higher than typical cell phone use. This suggests that chronic exposure to GSM cell phone signals may not directly damage the brain's memory systems.

Exposure to GSM 900 MHz electromagnetic fields affects cerebral cytochrome c oxidase activity.

Ammari M, Lecomte A, Sakly M, Abdelmelek H, de-Seze R. · 2008

French researchers exposed rats to cell phone radiation and measured brain enzyme activity. High-intensity exposure (6 W/kg) for 15 minutes daily reduced brain activity in memory and decision-making regions after one week. Lower exposures showed no effects, suggesting intensity matters for brain function.

Effect of a chronic GSM 900MHz exposure on glia in the rat brain.

Ammari M et al. · 2008

French researchers exposed rats to cell phone radiation (900 MHz) for 24 weeks and found that high-level exposure caused persistent brain inflammation. The study measured GFAP, a protein that increases when brain support cells called astrocytes become activated in response to injury or stress. This suggests that chronic cell phone radiation exposure may trigger ongoing inflammatory responses in brain tissue.

Oxidative Stress165 citations

Melatonin reduces oxidative stress induced by chronic exposure of microwave radiation from mobile phones in rat brain.

Sokolovic D et al. · 2008

Researchers exposed rats to mobile phone radiation for 20 to 60 days and found it caused oxidative damage in brain tissue, measured by increased levels of harmful molecules and decreased protective enzyme activity. When the rats were also given melatonin (a natural hormone), it significantly prevented some of this brain damage. This suggests that mobile phone radiation can harm brain cells through oxidative stress, but melatonin may offer some protection.

Extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields enhance chemically induced formation of apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP)sites in A172 cells.

Koyama S, Sakurai T, Nakahara T, Miyakoshi J · 2008

Researchers exposed human brain cancer cells to 60 Hz magnetic fields (the same frequency as household electricity) to see if it would increase DNA damage. They found that while the magnetic fields alone didn't damage DNA, they significantly amplified the DNA damage caused by toxic chemicals. This suggests that common power-frequency magnetic fields may make cells more vulnerable to other sources of genetic damage.

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