Alterations in human EEG activity caused by extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields.

Conference proceedings : ... Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Annual Conference · 2006 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 3479

Under double-blind counter-balanced conditions, ELF magnetic field exposure (20 µT rms) was associated with a significant increase in Alpha1, Alpha2, and Beta1 activity in the frontal region, and a significant decrease in Alpha2 activity in parietal and occip…

Study snapshot

PublicationConference proceedings : ... Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Annual Conference · 2006

Study typeother

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

This study has investigated whether extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic fields (EMFs) can alter human brain activity. Linearly polarised magnetic flux density of 20 muT (rms) was generated using a standard double Helmholtz coils and applied to the human head over a sequence of 1 minute stimulations followed by one minute without stimulation in the following order of frequencies 50, 16.66, 13, 10, 8.33 and 4 Hz. We collected recordings on 33 human volunteers under double-blind counter-balanced conditions. Each stimulation lasted for two minutes followed by one minute post-stimulation EEG recording. The same procedure was repeated for the EMF control sessions, where the order of control and exposure sessions was determined randomly according to the subject's ID number. The rest period between two conditions (exposure and control) was 30 minutes. The results indicate that there was a significant increase in Alpha1, Alpha2, and Beta1 at the frontal brain region, and a significant decrease in Alpha2 band in parietal and occipital region due to EMF exposure.

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 typeother

Effect directionmixed

Population33 human volunteers

Sample size33

ExposureELF · Sequence of 1-minute stimulations followed by 1 minute without stimulation; each stimulation lasted 2 minutes followed by 1 minute post-stimulation EEG recording; rest period between exposure and control conditions was 30 minutes

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: unknown

Main findings

Outcomes measured

EEG activity
Alpha1 power (frontal region)
Alpha2 power (frontal, parietal, occipital regions)
Beta1 power (frontal region)

Limitations

Conference proceedings format (details may be limited in abstract)
No participant characteristics described in the abstract (e.g., age/sex/health status)
No quantitative effect sizes or statistical details provided in the abstract
Exposure source/context beyond Helmholtz coils not described

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "other",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "Sequence of 1-minute stimulations followed by 1 minute without stimulation; each stimulation lasted 2 minutes followed by 1 minute post-stimulation EEG recording; rest period between exposure and control conditions was 30 minutes"
  },
  "population": "33 human volunteers",
  "sample_size": 33,
  "outcomes": [
    "EEG activity",
    "Alpha1 power (frontal region)",
    "Alpha2 power (frontal, parietal, occipital regions)",
    "Beta1 power (frontal region)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Under double-blind counter-balanced conditions, ELF magnetic field exposure (20 µT rms) was associated with a significant increase in Alpha1, Alpha2, and Beta1 activity in the frontal region, and a significant decrease in Alpha2 activity in parietal and occipital regions compared with control sessions.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Conference proceedings format (details may be limited in abstract)",
    "No participant characteristics described in the abstract (e.g., age/sex/health status)",
    "No quantitative effect sizes or statistical details provided in the abstract",
    "Exposure source/context beyond Helmholtz coils not described"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "unknown",
  "keywords": [
    "extremely low frequency",
    "ELF",
    "electromagnetic fields",
    "magnetic flux density",
    "20 µT",
    "Helmholtz coils",
    "EEG",
    "alpha band",
    "beta band",
    "double-blind",
    "counter-balanced"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "elf-emf",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Study explicitly investigates extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic field exposure and EEG changes in humans."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1109/iembs.2006.259314
PubMed: 17945759

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