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Electromagnetic hypersensitivity: evidence for a novel neurological syndrome.

The International journal of neuroscience · 2011 · Harm · Very low evidence

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HarmVery low evidencePaper 4448

In a double-blinded provocation procedure, the subject developed temporal pain, headache, muscle twitching, and skipped heartbeats within 100 seconds after initiation of 60-Hz electric-field exposure (average over head 300 V/m; p < .05). Symptoms were reporte…

Study snapshot

PublicationThe International journal of neuroscience · 2011
Study typecase_report
Reported directionHarm
Evidence ratingVery low

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: We sought direct evidence that acute exposure to environmental-strength electromagnetic fields (EMFs) could induce somatic reactions (EMF hypersensitivity). METHODS: The subject, a female physician self-diagnosed with EMF hypersensitivity, was exposed to an average (over the head) 60-Hz electric field of 300 V/m (comparable with typical environmental-strength EMFs) during controlled provocation and behavioral studies. RESULTS: In a double-blinded EMF provocation procedure specifically designed to minimize unintentional sensory cues, the subject developed temporal pain, headache, muscle twitching, and skipped heartbeats within 100 s after initiation of EMF exposure (p < .05). The symptoms were caused primarily by field transitions (off-on, on-off) rather than the presence of the field, as assessed by comparing the frequency and severity of the effects of pulsed and continuous fields in relation to sham exposure. The subject had no conscious perception of the field as judged by her inability to report its presence more often than in the sham control. DISCUSSION: The subject demonstrated statistically reliable somatic reactions in response to exposure to subliminal EMFs under conditions that reasonably excluded a causative role for psychological processes. CONCLUSION: EMF hypersensitivity can occur as a bona fide environmentally inducible neurological syndrome.

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 typecase_report
Effect directionharm
PopulationSingle subject: female physician self-diagnosed with EMF hypersensitivity
Sample size1
ExposureELF
Evidence strengthVery lowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In a double-blinded provocation procedure, the subject developed temporal pain, headache, muscle twitching, and skipped heartbeats within 100 seconds after initiation of 60-Hz electric-field exposure (average over head 300 V/m; p < .05). Symptoms were reported to be caused primarily by field transitions (off-on, on-off) rather than the continuous presence of the field, and the subject could not report field presence more often than during sham exposure.

Outcomes measured

  • temporal pain
  • headache
  • muscle twitching
  • skipped heartbeats
  • ability to consciously perceive/report field presence

Limitations

  • Single-subject case report (n=1), limiting generalizability
  • Exposure duration not reported in abstract
  • Outcome measures appear symptom-based and may be subjective (details not provided in abstract)
  • Statistical details beyond p<.05 not provided in abstract
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "case_report",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "environmental-strength electric field (provocation study)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Single subject: female physician self-diagnosed with EMF hypersensitivity",
  "sample_size": 1,
  "outcomes": [
    "temporal pain",
    "headache",
    "muscle twitching",
    "skipped heartbeats",
    "ability to consciously perceive/report field presence"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In a double-blinded provocation procedure, the subject developed temporal pain, headache, muscle twitching, and skipped heartbeats within 100 seconds after initiation of 60-Hz electric-field exposure (average over head 300 V/m; p < .05). Symptoms were reported to be caused primarily by field transitions (off-on, on-off) rather than the continuous presence of the field, and the subject could not report field presence more often than during sham exposure.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Single-subject case report (n=1), limiting generalizability",
    "Exposure duration not reported in abstract",
    "Outcome measures appear symptom-based and may be subjective (details not provided in abstract)",
    "Statistical details beyond p<.05 not provided in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "very_low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "electromagnetic hypersensitivity",
    "EHS",
    "ELF",
    "60 Hz",
    "electric field",
    "provocation study",
    "double-blind",
    "sham exposure",
    "field transitions",
    "somatic symptoms"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.2,
      "reason": "Addresses electromagnetic hypersensitivity claims relevant to EMF health guidance discussions."
    }
  ]
}
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: 10.3109/00207454.2011.608139
PubMed: 21793784

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