6,486 Studies Reviewed. 85.2% of Original Studies Found Biological Effects. The Evidence is Clear.
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Brain & Nervous System

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Key Finding: 83% of 1,950 primary studies on brain & nervous system found biological effects from EMF exposure.

Of 1,950 studies examining brain & nervous system, 83% found measurable biological effects from EMF exposure.

Lowest Documented Effect

Research found effects on brain & nervous system at exposures as low as:

Study Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in Context4.3 × 10⁻⁵ mGExtreme Concern - 5 mGFCC Limit - 2,000 mGEffects documented below the Building Biology "No Concern" threshold (0.2 mG)FCC limit is 46.5 million times higher than this level

Research Overview

  • -When you review the peer-reviewed literature on electromagnetic field exposure and brain function, the numbers tell a compelling story: 84% of the 2,753 studies examining this relationship have documented measurable effects.
  • -This isn't a fringe concern or preliminary finding.
  • -This is the dominant scientific picture, and it deserves your attention.

When you review the peer-reviewed literature on electromagnetic field exposure and brain function, the numbers tell a compelling story: 84% of the 2,753 studies examining this relationship have documented measurable effects. This isn't a fringe concern or preliminary finding. This is the dominant scientific picture, and it deserves your attention. The documented effects span multiple systems within your nervous system.

Of 2,753 studies examining EMF effects on the brain and nervous system, approximately 84 percent found measurable biological effects.

The scientific evidence demonstrates that radiofrequency electromagnetic fields from mobile phones and wireless devices produce measurable effects on nervous system function and cellular processes in the brain.

Source: BioInitiative Working Group. BioInitiative Report: A Rationale for Biologically-based Public Exposure Standards for Electromagnetic Radiation. Edited by Cindy Sage and David O. Carpenter, BioInitiative, 2012, updated 2020. www.bioinitiative.org

Research Statistics by EMF Type

EMF TypeStudiesShowing EffectsPercentage
ELF22920891.00%
RF30522272.00%

Source: Dr. Henry Lai research database

Showing 2,030 studies

Cancer & Tumors112 citations

The effects of recall errors and of selection bias in epidemiologic studies of mobile phone use and cancer risk.

Vrijheid M, Deltour I, Krewski D, Sanchez M, Cardis E. · 2006

The study used Monte Carlo simulations within the INTERPHONE study to examine how recall errors and selection bias affect case-control studies of mobile phone use and cancer. Results suggest that random recall errors of plausible levels can lead to a large underestimation of brain cancer risk, and random errors were found to have a larger impact than plausible systematic errors. Selection bias from underselecting unexposed controls produced J-shaped exposure-response patterns where risk appeared to decrease at low to moderate exposure levels.

Long-term and frequent cellular phone use and risk of acoustic neuroma.

Salahaldin AH, Bener A. · 2006

Researchers reviewed all acoustic neuroma cases registered at Hamad Medical Corporation during 2004-2005 to describe the epidemiology in Qatar. They diagnosed 13 patients, 10 women with a median age of 55 years and 3 men with a median age of 49 years. Most patients used cell phones daily an average of 14 times per day for more than 5 years, while 3 patients used them excessively for more than 20 minutes per call more than five times daily. The total incidence rate was 17.2 per million population, which the authors concluded is slightly higher than in other countries.

Effects of intensive and moderate cellular phone use on hearing function.

Oktay MF, Dasdag S · 2006

The study enrolled three groups of 20 men each: heavy users who spoke on a cellular phone for about two hours per day for four years, moderate users who used a phone for 10 to 20 minutes per day for four years, and a control group of men who had never used a cellular phone. In brainstem evoked response audiometry the I-III, III-V, and I-V interpeak latencies were evaluated. The BERA results showed no differences among the groups. Pure tone audiometry found no difference between moderate users and controls. Heavy users had significantly higher detection thresholds at 4000 Hz for both bone and air conduction in the right ear and at 500 Hz and 4000 Hz for bone and air conduction in the left ear.

GSM radiation triggers seizures and increases cerebral c-Fos positivity in rats pretreated with subconvulsive doses of picrotoxin.

Lopez-Martin E et al. · 2006

The study investigated effects of mobile-phone-type radiation on cerebral activity of seizure-prone animals. Rats pretreated with subconvulsive picrotoxin and exposed to 2 hours of GSM-modulated 900 MHz radiation suffered seizures and showed markedly increased c-Fos levels in neocortex, paleocortex, hippocampus and thalamus. Non-irradiated picrotoxin-treated rats did not suffer seizures and had significantly lower c-Fos counts. Radiation caused no such differences in rats not pretreated with picrotoxin.

Mobile phone effects on children's event-related oscillatory EEG during an auditory memory task.

Krause CM et al. · 2006

Researchers collected EEG data from 15 children aged 10 to 14 years while they performed an auditory memory task with and without exposure to a 902 MHz mobile phone in counterbalanced order. During memory encoding, the active mobile phone modulated event-related desynchronization and synchronization responses in the approximately 4 to 8 Hz EEG frequencies. During recognition, the active mobile phone transformed brain oscillatory responses in the approximately 4 to 8 Hz and approximately 15 Hz frequencies.

Estimation of relative exposure levels for cellular phone users using a neural network.

Kim SC, Nam KC, Kim DW. · 2006

The model used parameters such as daily usage time, total usage period, hands-free usage, antenna extension, phone SAR, and flip or folder type. The estimated exposure levels could allow epidemiologists to divide subjects into exposed and nonexposed groups for future brain cancer studies, provided more knowledge about usage patterns and exposure is available.

Neuropsychological sequelae of digital mobile phone exposure in humans.

Keetley V, Wood AW, Spong J, Stough C. · 2006

The study compared the performance of 120 volunteers on eight neuropsychological tests during real or sham exposure to a digital mobile phone at maximum permissible radiofrequency power output. Results were adjusted for gender, age, and education, revealing several alterations at p<0.05. Simple and choice reaction times showed strong evidence of impairment. Trail Making Task performance improved, supporting the hypothesis that digital mobile phone radiofrequency emissions improve the speed of processing of information held in working memory.

Driver distraction: The effects of concurrent in-vehicle tasks, road environment complexity and age on driving performance.

Horberry T, Anderson J, Regan MA, Triggs TJ, Brown J. · 2006

The two tasks were operating the vehicle entertainment system and conducting a simulated hands-free mobile phone conversation. Both tasks degraded overall driving performance, degraded responses to hazards, and increased subjective workload. Performance decrements occurred in both simple and complex highway environments and across age groups. Older drivers traveled at lower mean speeds in the complex highway environment compared with younger drivers.

Cancer & Tumors231 citations

Pooled analysis of two case-control studies on use of cellular and cordless telephones and the risk for malignant brain tumours diagnosed in 1997-2003.

Hardell L, Carlberg M, Hansson Mild K. · 2006

Two case-control studies on malignant brain tumours diagnosed during 1997-2003 included answers from 905 cases and 2,162 controls aged 20-80 years, and the results were pooled. Cumulative lifetime use exceeding 2,000 hours yielded odds ratios of 5.9 for analogue cellular phones, 3.7 for digital cellular phones, and 2.3 for cordless phones. Ipsilateral exposure increased the risk for malignant brain tumours with odds ratios of 2.1 for analogue, 1.8 for digital, and 1.7 for cordless phones. For high-grade astrocytoma with more than 10 years latency, analogue phones yielded an odds ratio of 2.7, digital phones 3.8, and cordless phones 2.2.

Cancer & Tumors158 citations

Pooled analysis of two case-control studies on the use of cellular and cordless telephones and the risk of benign brain tumours diagnosed during 1997-2003.

Hardell L, Carlberg M, Hansson Mild K. · 2006

Researchers conducted a pooled analysis of two case-control studies on benign brain tumours diagnosed during 1997-2003, including 1,254 cases and 2,162 controls aged 20-80 years. For acoustic neuroma, analogue cellular phones gave an odds ratio of 2.9 (95% CI 2.0-4.3), digital phones an odds ratio of 1.5 (95% CI 1.1-2.1), and cordless phones an odds ratio of 1.5 (95% CI 1.04-2.0). For meningioma, the odds ratios were 1.3 (95% CI 0.99-1.7) for analogue phones, 1.1 (95% CI 0.9-1.3) for digital phones, and 1.1 (95% CI 0.9-1.4) for cordless phones.

Cancer & Tumors129 citations

Case-control study of the association between the use of cellular and cordless telephones and malignant brain tumors diagnosed during 2000-2003.

Hardell, L., Carlberg, M., Mild, K., 2005. · 2006

Researchers conducted a case-control study of cellular and cordless telephone use and malignant brain tumors diagnosed from 2000 to 2003, including 317 cases and 692 controls. Analog phone use had an odds ratio of 2.6, increasing to 3.5 after a latency period exceeding ten years. Cordless phone use had an odds ratio of 2.1, increasing to 2.9 after a latency period exceeding ten years. The odds ratio increased with cumulative hours of use and was highest for high-grade astrocytoma.

Pulsed radiofrequency applied to dorsal root ganglia causes a selective increase in ATF3 in small neurons.

Hamann W, Abou-Sherif S, Thompson S, Hall S. · 2006

Researchers applied pulsed radiofrequency (20 ms of 500-kHz RF pulses at 2 Hz, max 42°C) to the sciatic nerve or L4 anterior primary ramus in adult rats. Controls included sham-operated and L4 axotomised rats, and tissues were examined 14 days later. Axotomy upregulated ATF3 in L4 DRG neurons regardless of size. PRF applied near the DRG significantly and selectively increased ATF3 in small and medium neurons, while PRF applied to the sciatic nerve in mid-thigh caused no obvious changes.

Mobile phone emissions and human brain excitability.

Ferreri F et al. · 2006

Fifteen male volunteers participated in two sessions one week apart with real or sham GSM mobile phone exposure for 45 minutes in a cross-over, double-blind design. Motor evoked potentials were recorded using a paired-pulse paradigm before and after exposure to assess intracortical excitability. Real exposure significantly modified the intracortical excitability curve with reduced short intracortical inhibition and enhanced intracortical facilitation in the exposed hemisphere compared to the non-exposed hemisphere or sham exposure. Tympanic temperature showed no significant changes during exposure.

Effect of pierced metallic objects on sar distributions at 900 MHz.

Fayos-Fernandez J et al. · 2006

The study examined how metallic objects attached or pierced to the ear interact with mobile phone antennas and a human head. Simulated and measured results indicate that wearing metallic objects close to the radiation source may increase peak SAR averaged values. Researchers used a quasi-half-wavelength dipole with the DASY4 system and tested two head models: a homogeneous sphere and a three-level model with four tissue types.

Short-term effects of GSM mobiles phones on spectral components of the human electroencephalogram.

Faucon G, Le Bouquin Jeannes R, Maby E. · 2006

Nine healthy subjects and six temporal epileptic patients were exposed to radiofrequencies emitted by a GSM mobile phone while EEG signals were recorded with surface electrodes. For healthy subjects, EEG spectral energy decreased on the studied frequency band [0-40 Hz] and more precisely on occipital electrodes for the alpha-band. For epileptic patients, modifications were demonstrated by an increase of the power spectral density of the EEG signal. The authors noted that these biological effects on the EEG are not sufficient to put forward an electrophysiological hypothesis.

Effect of electromagnetic fields emitted by cellular phones on the latency of evoked electrodermal activity.

Esen F, Esen H · 2006

Researchers examined how cellular phone electromagnetic fields affect evoked neuronal activity related to electrodermal activity, an index of sympathetic nervous system activity. Exposure lengthened skin resistance response latency by approximately 200 ms regardless of which side of the head the phone was placed. The hemispheric asymmetry of the EDA-2 pathway, shown by shorter latency in the right hand of right-hand responders, was also distorted.

Effects of radiofrequency radiation emitted by cellular telephones on the cognitive functions of humans.

Eliyahu I et al. · 2006

Thirty-six healthy right-handed men performed four cognitive tasks under right-side, left-side, and sham exposure conditions. The study used a standard GSM phone at 890 MHz operated at full power via a base station simulator. Left-side exposure slowed left-hand response time in the later experimental period, an effect seen in three of four tasks but highly significant in only one. The exposure intensity and duration exceeded typical cell phone user exposure.

Electromagnetic absorption in the head of adults and children due to mobile phone operation close to the head.

de Salles AA, Bulla G, Rodriguez CE. · 2006

Researchers simulated Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) in adult and child head models using the Finite Difference Time Domain method at 850 MHz and 1850 MHz. They used realistic head models with fitted electromagnetic parameters and tested microstrip and quarter-wavelength monopole antennas. The 1g-SAR for children was higher than for adults, exceeding 60% higher in the 10-year-old model. Results were compared with international recommendations.

Cancer & TumorsNo Effects Found

Occupational exposure to radio frequency/microwave radiation and the risk of brain tumors: Interphone Study Group, Germany.

Berg G et al. · 2006

A population-based case-control study included 381 meningioma cases, 366 glioma cases, and 1,494 controls aged 30 to 69 years in three German regions from 2000 to 2003. Researchers built an exposure matrix from computer-assisted personal interviews and defined high exposure as potentially exceeding ICNIRP public limits. Adjusted odds ratios for high exposure were 1.21 (95% CI: 0.69, 2.13) for glioma and 1.34 (95% CI: 0.64, 2.81) for meningioma, indicating no significant association.

Engrossed in conversation: The impact of cell phones on simulated driving performance.

Beede KE, Kass SJ. · 2006

Thirty-six college students with a median of 6 years of driving experience completed a driving history questionnaire and four simulated driving scenarios. The distraction tasks consisted of responding to a signal detection task and engaging in a simulated cell phone conversation. Driving performance was measured in four categories: traffic violations, driving maintenance, attention lapses, and response time. Performance was significantly impacted in all four categories when drivers were concurrently talking on a hands-free phone.

Mobile phone affects cerebral blood flow in humans.

Aalto S et al. · 2006

Researchers studied the effects of a commercial mobile phone on regional cerebral blood flow in healthy humans using PET imaging. A mobile phone in operation induced a local decrease in cerebral blood flow beneath the antenna in the inferior temporal cortex and an increase in the prefrontal cortex. The study used a double-blind, counterbalanced design with 12 male subjects performing a verbal working memory task.

Melatonin modulates 900 Mhz microwave-induced lipid peroxidation changes in rat brain.

Koylu H, Mollaoglu H, Ozguner F, Nazyroglu M, Delibab N. · 2006

Twenty-eight Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham control, 900-MHz microwave exposure, and microwave exposure with melatonin treatment. Microwave exposure increased lipid peroxidation in both the brain cortex and hippocampus compared to controls. Melatonin administration decreased lipid peroxidation in the hippocampus but did not affect cortex levels.

Learn More

For a comprehensive exploration of EMF health effects including brain & nervous system, along with practical protection strategies, explore these books by R Blank and Dr. Martin Blank.

FAQs: EMF & Brain & Nervous System

When you review the peer-reviewed literature on electromagnetic field exposure and brain function, the numbers tell a compelling story: 84% of the 2,753 studies examining this relationship have documented measurable effects. This isn't a fringe concern or preliminary finding. This is the dominant scientific picture, and it deserves your attention. The documented effects span multiple systems within your nervous system.
The SYB Research Database includes 1,950 peer-reviewed studies examining the relationship between electromagnetic field exposure and brain & nervous system. These studies have been conducted by researchers worldwide and published in scientific journals. The research spans multiple decades and includes various types of EMF sources including cell phones, WiFi, power lines, and other common sources of electromagnetic radiation.
83% of the 1,950 studies examining brain & nervous system found measurable biological effects from EMF exposure. This means that 1621 studies documented observable changes in biological systems when exposed to electromagnetic fields. The remaining 17% either found no significant effects or had inconclusive results, which is typical in scientific research where study design and exposure parameters vary.