Progress in the study of the effects of electromagnetic radiation on the mood and rhythm (review)

Electromagnetic biology and medicine · 2025 · Mixed · Low evidence

← Research stream

MixedLow evidencePaper 140

Study snapshot

PublicationElectromagnetic biology and medicine · 2025

Study typereview

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Progress in the study of the effects of electromagnetic radiation on the mood and rhythm (review) Zou DF, Li ZH, Liu YB, Wang CZ. Progress in the study of the effects of electromagnetic radiation on the mood and rhythm. Electromagn Biol Med. 2025 Feb 18:1-16. doi: 10.1080/15368378.2025.2460971. Abstract The ever-expanding use of a large number of electrical appliances and mobile communication systems, which outnumber the global population, emit electromagnetic radiation through mobile telephones, power stations, transmission lines, radar, microwave ovens, televisions, refrigerators, therapeutic and other electronic devices. Electromagnetic radiation has been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B). A large number of research results show that short-term and long-term exposure to electromagnetic radiation can lead to anxiety, depression, decreased learning ability, memory loss, sleep rhythm disorders and other adverse effects. Sleep rhythm disorders affect many people worldwide and may be associated with psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and depression. In this review, we summarise key experiments related to the effects of electric field exposure on mood and rhythms in animal and cellular studies over the past decade, describe the effects of electromagnetic radiation on emotional behaviors and circadian rhythms in humans and mammals, and explore the relationship between electromagnetic radiation,mood and rhythms as well as its underlying mechanisms of action. Most animal studies suggest that electromagnetic radiation may affect the physiological organization and functioning of the brain, influence neurotransmitters and receptors, interfere with neuronal formation and structure, or alter associated endocrine hormones and free radicals, which may lead to the unfavorable development of psychiatric disorders and sleep rhythm disorders. This summary may provide researchers with better clues and ideas to develop therapeutic solutions with sleep disorders and depressive psychiatric disorders. Plain Language Summary In this paper, we summarize the effects of electromagnetic radiation on body mood and rhythm and its mechanism through the recent research status at home and abroad. Published work has investigated the effects of different substances (including neurotransmitters, neurons, endocrine hormones, and free radicals) on the body’s mood and rhythm. In many studies, the thermal effects of EMR have not been fully controlled or considered, and most studies have focused on the common frequency bands used in power lines and wireless communication, while the biological effects of other frequencies and complex electromagnetic environments have been less discussed. In conclusion, our understanding of EMR’s role in body mood and rhythm is quite limited, and further research is needed to answer unanswered questions. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typereview

Effect directionmixed

PopulationHumans and mammals (animal and cellular studies; humans mentioned)

Sample sizeNot supplied

Exposureshort-term and long-term (mentioned)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

The review states that many studies report short- and long-term electromagnetic radiation exposure is associated with adverse outcomes including anxiety, depression, reduced learning ability, memory loss, and sleep/circadian rhythm disorders. It summarizes proposed mechanisms from mostly animal studies (e.g., effects on brain organization/function, neurotransmitters/receptors, neuronal structure, endocrine hormones, and free radicals) and notes that understanding remains limited and further research is needed.

Outcomes measured

mood
anxiety
depression
learning ability
memory
sleep rhythm disorders
circadian rhythms
emotional behaviors
neurotransmitters and receptors
neuronal formation and structure
endocrine hormones
free radicals

Limitations

Thermal effects of electromagnetic radiation not fully controlled or considered in many studies
Most studies focus on common frequency bands used in power lines and wireless communication; other frequencies and complex electromagnetic environments are less discussed
Authors conclude understanding is quite limited and further research is needed

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "review",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "mobile phone, power stations, transmission lines, radar, microwave ovens, televisions, refrigerators, therapeutic and other electronic devices",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "short-term and long-term (mentioned)"
  },
  "population": "Humans and mammals (animal and cellular studies; humans mentioned)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "mood",
    "anxiety",
    "depression",
    "learning ability",
    "memory",
    "sleep rhythm disorders",
    "circadian rhythms",
    "emotional behaviors",
    "neurotransmitters and receptors",
    "neuronal formation and structure",
    "endocrine hormones",
    "free radicals"
  ],
  "main_findings": "The review states that many studies report short- and long-term electromagnetic radiation exposure is associated with adverse outcomes including anxiety, depression, reduced learning ability, memory loss, and sleep/circadian rhythm disorders. It summarizes proposed mechanisms from mostly animal studies (e.g., effects on brain organization/function, neurotransmitters/receptors, neuronal structure, endocrine hormones, and free radicals) and notes that understanding remains limited and further research is needed.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Thermal effects of electromagnetic radiation not fully controlled or considered in many studies",
    "Most studies focus on common frequency bands used in power lines and wireless communication; other frequencies and complex electromagnetic environments are less discussed",
    "Authors conclude understanding is quite limited and further research is needed"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "electromagnetic radiation",
    "electric field exposure",
    "mood",
    "anxiety",
    "depression",
    "sleep rhythm disorders",
    "circadian rhythm",
    "emotional behavior",
    "neurotransmitters",
    "endocrine hormones",
    "free radicals",
    "animal studies",
    "cellular studies"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.32,
      "reason": "Mentions IARC classification of electromagnetic radiation as possibly carcinogenic (Group 2B), relevant to major health-agency classifications."
    }
  ]
}

AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1080/15368378.2025.2460971
PubMed: 39964745

Read the original paper →

Related papers

← Back to the Research Library