6,486 Studies Reviewed. 85.2% of Original Studies Found Biological Effects. The Evidence is Clear.
All Topics

Brain & Nervous System

5 min read
Share:
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

Effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields on learning and memory abilities of STZ-induced dementia rats.

Li Y, Zhang Y, Wang W, Zhang Y, Yu Y, Cheing GL, Pan W. · 2019

Researchers allocated forty Sprague-Dawley rats to four groups, including an STZ-induced dementia group exposed to pulsed EMF at 10 mT and 20 Hz. The Morris water maze was used to assess learning and memory abilities, and IGF-1 and IGF-2 gene expression were measured by quantitative PCR. Mean escape latency was reduced by 66%, swimming distance decreased by 55%, and time for first crossing the platform decreased by 41.6% in the pulsed EMF group compared with the STZ group. IGF-2 gene expression significantly increased in the pulsed EMF group compared with the STZ group.

A comparative study on influences of static electric field and power frequency electric field on cognition in mice.

Di G, Kim H, Xu Y, Kim J, Gu X. · 2019

Researchers exposed mice to a static electric field (SEF) and a power frequency electric field (PFEF), each at 35 kV/m, for 49 days. The study found that a 35 kV/m SEF did not cause significant influences on learning and memory ability in mice, while a 35 kV/m PFEF caused significant positive effects on learning and memory ability on day 33. Behaviors were assessed using the Morris water maze test, and amino acid neurotransmitter levels in the hippocampus were examined during exposure.

Effect of 900-, 1800-, and 2100-MHz radiofrequency radiation on DNA and oxidative stress in brain

Alkis ME et al. · 2019

Researchers exposed male Sprague Dawley rats to radiofrequency radiation at 900, 1800, or 2100 MHz for 2 hours per day for 6 months to study DNA damage and oxidative stress in blood and brain tissue. DNA damage and oxidative stress indicators were found higher in the radiofrequency radiation exposure groups than in the sham-control group. The researchers concluded that 900-, 1800-, and 2100-MHz radiofrequency radiation may cause oxidative damage, induce an increase in lipid peroxidation, and increase oxidative DNA damage in the frontal lobe of rat brain tissues, and that 2100-MHz radiation may cause formation of DNA single-strand breaks.

Effects of exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields on spatial and passive avoidance learning and memory, anxiety-like behavior and oxidative stress in male rats.

Karimi SA, Salehi I, Shykhi T, Zare S, Komaki A. · 2019

Seventy-two adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into a control group, a sham exposure group, and ELF-EMF exposure groups at 1, 100, 500, and 2000 μT. After 60 days of exposure at 2 hours per day, researchers assessed anxiety-like behavior, spatial learning and memory, passive avoidance learning, and oxidative stress markers. Rats in the 100 and 2000 μT groups spent more time in the target zone during the spatial reference memory test. The researchers suggested that ELF-EMF exposure may improve memory retention but not acquisition, and may contribute to anxiety or oxidative stress.

Electromagnetic radiation from power lines and phone masts poses 'credible' threat to wildlife, report finds

Unknown authors · 2018

Ambient electromagnetic field levels have risen sharply in the last 80 years, creating a novel energetic exposure that previously did not exist. Biological effects have been seen broadly across all taxa and frequencies at vanishingly low intensities comparable to today's ambient exposures. Broad wildlife effects have been seen on orientation and migration, food finding, reproduction, mating, nest and den building, territorial maintenance and defense, and longevity and survivorship. Cyto- and geno-toxic effects have been observed.

Telecommunication devices use, screen time and sleep in adolescents

Cabre-Riera A et al. · 2018

Researchers conducted a cross-sectional study of adolescents aged 17–18 years from a Spanish birth cohort established in Menorca in 1997–1998. Subjective sleep was assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index in 226 participants and objective sleep with ActiGraph wGT3X-BT for 7 nights in 110 participants. One or more cordless phone calls per week was associated with lower sleep quality (PR 1.30, 95% CI 1.04–1.62). Habitual and frequent problematic mobile phone use were associated with lower sleep quality (PR 1.55 and 1.67). Higher tablet use was linked to decreased sleep efficiency and increased wake time after sleep onset per 10 minutes per day of use.

National data showed that delayed sleep in six-year-old children was associated with excessive use of electronic devices at 12 years

Kato T, Yorifuii T, Yamakawa M, Inoue S · 2018

Researchers analyzed 9607 adolescents who owned mobile phones in 2013 using a Japanese longitudinal survey that began in 2001. The study examined delayed bedtime at age six and excessive use of mobile phones, television, and video games at age twelve. Delayed bedtime at age six was associated with excessive texting at weekends, with adjusted odds ratios of 1.88 for the 10–11 pm group and 1.98 for the after 11 pm group compared to the before 9 pm group. Later bedtimes were also associated with increased risks of excessive television viewing and video game use.

A prospective cohort study of adolescents' memory performance and individual brain dose of microwave radiation from wireless communication

Foerster et al · 2018

Researchers modeled RF-EMF brain dose for each participant and tracked verbal and figural memory score changes over one year using multivariable linear regression. Higher cumulative RF-EMF brain dose was associated with decreased figural memory scores in the whole sample and more strongly in right-side phone users. Media use unrelated to RF-EMF showed no significant associations with memory changes.

Whole-body pulsed EMF stimulation improves cognitive and psychomotor activity in senescent rats

Unknown authors · 2018

Psychomotility was assessed in an open field, attention in novel object recognition, and spatial learning in the Morris water maze. EMF stimulation increased vertical rearing activity in the open field, improved attention-based discrimination in novel object recognition, and facilitated working memory spatial learning in the water maze. No undesirable side effects were observed even at the highest dose.

Static magnetic fields reduce epileptiform activity in anesthetized rat and monkey

Unknown authors · 2018

The study aimed to investigate the effect of static magnetic fields on epileptiform cortical activity. The first experiment used a pilocarpine rat model with a 0.5 T magnet or sham placed over the skull. The second experiment recorded epileptic-like activity in the visual cortex of a monkey under control and magnet conditions. In rats, seizure-like events appeared after 1–2 hours with the magnet versus 15–30 minutes in controls, and in the monkey the magnet reduced abnormal activity.

Low- frequency pulsed electromagnetic field pretreated bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells promote the regeneration of crush-injured rat mental nerve

Unknown authors · 2018

The study investigated the effects of low-frequency PEMF pretreatment on bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells and their ability to promote regeneration of a crush-injured rat mental nerve using in vitro and in vivo experiments. In vitro, PEMF-pretreated BMSCs proliferated faster and showed greater mRNA expression of growth factors compared with unpretreated BMSCs. In vivo, rats receiving PEMF-pretreated BMSCs had higher myelinated axon counts, greater axon density, more DiI-labeled neurons in the trigeminal ganglia, and faster functional recovery than those receiving unpretreated BMSCs.

Long-term RF exposure on behavior and cerebral glucose metabolism in 5xFAD mice

Unknown authors · 2018

Researchers exposed 5xFAD mice to 1950 MHz RF-EMF at a specific absorption rate of 5.0 W/kg for 2 h/day and 5 days/week for 8 months. Behavioral changes were assessed using an open field test and an object recognition memory task after exposure ended. RF exposure rescued hyperactivity-like and anxiolytic behaviors in the open field test and improved cognitive deficits in the object recognition memory test. Glucose metabolism in the hippocampus and amygdala was significantly increased in RF-exposed mice compared to sham-exposed mice.

Brain & Nervous SystemNo Effects Found

Effects of 1800 MHz RF-EMF exposure on DNA damage and cellular functions in primary cultured neurogenic cells

Unknown authors · 2018

The study exposed primary cultured astrocytes, microglia, and cortical neurons to RF-EMF at a SAR of 4.0 W/kg. DNA damage was assessed using γH2AX foci formation, cytokine secretion by ELISA, microglial phagocytosis by phagocytosis assay, and neuronal development by immunofluorescent staining for specific proteins. RF-EMF exposure did not significantly induce γH2AX foci formation in the three neurogenic cell types. Cytokine secretion in astrocytes and microglia and dendritic or synaptic morphology in cortical neurons were not significantly affected. However, microglial phagocytic activity was significantly reduced and cortical neuron axon branch length and number were significantly inhibited.

Short-term 2.1 GHz radiofrequency radiation treatment induces significant changes on the auditory evoked potentials in adult rats

Unknown authors · 2018

Researchers randomly assigned rats to cage control, sham, or 2.1 GHz RF exposure for 2 hours daily over 7 days and recorded auditory evoked potentials. Peak-to-peak amplitudes of auditory evoked potentials were significantly higher in the RF group than in the sham group. Evoked power, inter-trial phase synchronization, and auditory evoked gamma responses were also significantly higher in the RF group. The RF group showed significantly lower TBARS and 4-HNE levels, while GFAP, nNOS, and iNOS levels did not differ between groups, and no differences were found between cage control and RF groups.

Occupational exposure to extremely low-frequency magnetic fields and the risk of ALS: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Huss A et al · 2018

Researchers performed a meta-analysis of 20 epidemiologic studies to examine the association between occupational ELF-MF exposure and ALS. Overall, higher occupational ELF-MF exposure was associated with a slightly increased ALS risk (sRR 1.14, 95% CI 1.00–1.30), and electrical occupations showed a higher risk (sRR 1.41, CI 1.05–1.92), but there was large heterogeneity between studies (I2 > 70%). Studies using self-reported exposure or death certificates did not find increased risks, while studies assessing the whole occupational history with highest-longest exposure metrics found a stronger association (sRR 1.89, CI 1.31–2.73) compared to those using only few time points (sRR 1.06, CI 0.75–1.57).

Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Fields impair the Cognitive and Motor Abilities of Honey Bees

Shepherd S et al · 2018

Researchers tested how acute exposure to 50 Hz ELF EMFs at levels ranging from 20–100 µT, found at ground level below powerline conductors, to 1000–7000 µT, found within 1 m of the conductors, affects honey bee olfactory learning, flight, foraging activity and feeding. Exposure reduced learning, altered flight dynamics, and reduced the success of foraging flights towards food sources.

Brain & Nervous SystemNo Effects Found

Impact of Long-Term RF-EMF on Oxidative Stress and Neuroinflammation in Aging Brains of C57BL/6 Mice.

Jeong YJ et al. · 2018

The aim of the study was to observe the impact of long-term RF-EMF on oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in aging brains of C57BL/6 mice. Compared with young mice, aged mice showed significantly increased protein and lipid oxidative damage markers in the brain. Aged mice also had significantly elevated markers of DNA damage, apoptosis, astrocytes, and microglia. Long-term RF-EMF exposure did not change the levels of oxidative stress, DNA damage, apoptosis, astrocyte, or microglia markers in aged mouse brains. Long-term RF-EMF exposure also did not alter locomotor activity in aged mice.

Brain & Nervous SystemNo Effects Found

50-Hz magnetic field impairs the expression of iron-related genes in the in vitro SOD1G93A model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Consales C et al. · 2018

The study used SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells stably over-expressing wild-type, G93A, or H46R mutant SOD1. Cells were exposed to 50-Hz, 1 mT ELF-MF or sham control for up to 72 hours. Exposure caused no change in proliferation, viability, or reactive oxygen species, but significantly deregulated iron-related genes IRP1, MFRN1, and TfR1 only in SOD1G93A cells, with a slight difference in total iron content (p = .0512).

Association between mobile phone use and depressed mood in Japanese adolescents: a cross-sectional study.

Ikeda K, Nakamura K. · 2018

The cross-sectional study included 2,785 high school students in Niigata, Japan. Mean mobile phone use was 24 hours per week with a median of 18 hours. Longer mobile phone use was associated with female students, no sports club participation, early mobile phone use, and fewer hours of sleep. Overall associations between hours of mobile phone use and mood scores were significant for depressed mood, tension and excitement, and fatigue.

Transcranial static magnetic field stimulation (tSMS) of the visual cortex decreases experimental photophobia.

Lozano-Soto E et al. · 2018

In a sham-controlled double-blind crossover study, tSMS was applied for 10 minutes with a cylindrical magnet on the occiput of 20 healthy subjects. Researchers assessed subjective discomfort induced by low-intensity and high-intensity visual stimuli in a dark room before, during and after tSMS or sham. Compared to sham, tSMS significantly reduced the discomfort induced by high-intensity light stimuli.

Transcranial Static Magnetic Field Stimulation over the Primary Motor Cortex Induces Plastic Changes in Cortical Nociceptive Processing.

Kirimoto H et al. · 2018

Researchers applied transcranial static magnetic field stimulation or sham over the primary motor and somatosensory cortices in 18 healthy volunteers for 15 minutes. They recorded evoked potentials before, immediately after, and 10 minutes after stimulation. The evoked potential amplitude was significantly reduced immediately after stimulation over the primary motor cortex, but not after stimulation over the somatosensory cortex or sham.

Decrease of motor cortex excitability following exposure to a 20 Hz magnetic field as generated by a rotating permanent magnet.

Gallasch E, Rafolt D, Postruznik M, Fresnoza S, Christova M. · 2018

Fourteen healthy volunteers received 20 Hz tAMF stimulation over the motor cortex, over the vertex, and 20 Hz tACS over the motor cortex, each for 15 minutes. TMS assessments were performed before and after the interventions to evaluate changes in MEP, SICI, and ICF. After tAMF stimulation, MEP amplitudes and ICF decreased while the effect of SICI increased. After tACS stimulation, MEP amplitudes increased with no effects on SICI and ICF.

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.