Human resting-state EEG and radiofrequency GSM mobile phone exposure: The impact of the individual alpha frequency

International journal of radiation biology · 2021 · No effect · Low evidence

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No effectLow evidencePaper 982

Study snapshot

PublicationInternational journal of radiation biology · 2021

Study typerandomized_trial

Reported directionNo effect

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Human resting-state EEG and radiofrequency GSM mobile phone exposure: The impact of the individual alpha frequency Jasmina Wallace, Lydia Yahia-Cherif, Christophe Gitton, Laurent Hugueville, Jean-Didier Lemaréchal, Brahim Selmaoui. Human resting-state EEG and radiofrequency GSM mobile phone exposure: The impact of the individual alpha frequency. Int J Radiat Biol. 2021 Nov 19;1-29. doi: 10.1080/09553002.2021.2009146. Abstract Purpose. With the extensive use of mobile phone (MP) several studies have been realized to investigate the effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) exposure on brain activity at rest via electroencephalography (EEG), and the most consistent effect has been seen on the alpha band power spectral density (PSD). However, some studies reported an increase or a decrease of the PSD, while others showed no effect. It has been suggested that these differences might partly be due to a variability of the physiological state of the brain between subjects. So, the aim of this study was to investigate the alpha band modulation, exploring the impact of the alpha band frequency ranges applied in the PSD analysis. Materials & Methods. Twenty-one healthy volunteers took part in the study with a double-blind, randomized and counterbalanced crossover design, during which eyes-open (EO) and eyes-closed (EC) resting-state EEG was recorded. The exposure system was a sham or a real GSM (global system for mobile) 900 MHz MP (pulse modulated at 217 Hz, mean power of 250 mW and 2 W peak, with a maximum specific absorption rate of 0.70 W/kg on 1 g tissue). The experimental protocol presented a baseline recording phase without MP exposure, an exposure phase during which the exposure system was placed against the left ear, and the post-exposure phase without MP. EEG data from baseline and exposure phases were analyzed and PSD was computed for the alpha band in the fixed range of 8-12 Hz and for the individual alpha band frequency range (IAF). Results. Results showed a trend in decrease or increase of EEG power of both alpha oscillations during exposure in relation to EC and EO recording conditions, respectively, but not reaching statistical significance. Findings did not provide evidence for a different sensitivity to RF-EMF MP related to individual variability in the frequency of the alpha band. Conclusion. In conclusion, these results did not show alpha band activity modulation during resting-state under RF-EMF. It might be argued the need of a delay after the exposure in order to appreciate an EEG spectral power modulation related to RF-EMF exposure. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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AI evidence extraction

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Study typerandomized_trial

Effect directionno_effect

PopulationHealthy volunteers

Sample size21

ExposureRF · 900 MHz · 0.7 W/kg

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In a double-blind randomized counterbalanced crossover study, alpha-band EEG power during GSM 900 MHz exposure showed a non-significant trend toward decreased power in eyes-closed and increased power in eyes-open conditions. The study did not find evidence that using an individual alpha frequency (IAF) range revealed different sensitivity to RF-EMF exposure compared with a fixed 8–12 Hz alpha range.

Outcomes measured

Resting-state EEG power spectral density (PSD) in alpha band (8–12 Hz)
Resting-state EEG PSD in individual alpha frequency (IAF) range
Eyes-open vs eyes-closed resting-state EEG alpha oscillations during exposure

Limitations

Small sample size (n=21)
Reported effects were trends that did not reach statistical significance
Only baseline and exposure phases analyzed (post-exposure not analyzed for PSD in the described analysis)
Authors suggest a possible need for a delay after exposure to detect modulation (timing may limit detection)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "randomized_trial",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": 900,
    "sar_wkg": 0.7,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Healthy volunteers",
  "sample_size": 21,
  "outcomes": [
    "Resting-state EEG power spectral density (PSD) in alpha band (8–12 Hz)",
    "Resting-state EEG PSD in individual alpha frequency (IAF) range",
    "Eyes-open vs eyes-closed resting-state EEG alpha oscillations during exposure"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In a double-blind randomized counterbalanced crossover study, alpha-band EEG power during GSM 900 MHz exposure showed a non-significant trend toward decreased power in eyes-closed and increased power in eyes-open conditions. The study did not find evidence that using an individual alpha frequency (IAF) range revealed different sensitivity to RF-EMF exposure compared with a fixed 8–12 Hz alpha range.",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [
    "Small sample size (n=21)",
    "Reported effects were trends that did not reach statistical significance",
    "Only baseline and exposure phases analyzed (post-exposure not analyzed for PSD in the described analysis)",
    "Authors suggest a possible need for a delay after exposure to detect modulation (timing may limit detection)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radiofrequency electromagnetic fields",
    "RF-EMF",
    "GSM",
    "900 MHz",
    "mobile phone exposure",
    "resting-state EEG",
    "alpha band",
    "individual alpha frequency",
    "power spectral density",
    "double-blind",
    "randomized crossover"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "mobile-phones-rf",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Study tests GSM 900 MHz mobile phone RF exposure effects on resting-state EEG."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1080/09553002.2021.2009146
PubMed: 34797205

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