Effects of high-frequency electromagnetic fields on human EEG: a brain mapping study.

The International journal of neuroscience · 2003 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 5270

Study snapshot

PublicationThe International journal of neuroscience · 2003

Study typerandomized_trial

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Cell phones emitting pulsed high-frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) may affect the human brain, but there are inconsistent results concerning their effects on electroencephalogram (EEG). We used a 16-channel telemetric electroencephalograph (ExpertTM), to record EEG changes during exposure of human skull to EMF emitted by a mobile phone. Spatial distribution of EMF was especially concentrated around the ipsilateral eye adjacent to the basal surface of the brain. Traditional EEG was full of noises during operation of a cellular phone. Using a telemetric electroencephalograph (ExpertTM) in awake subjects, all the noise was eliminated, and EEG showed interesting changes: after a period of 10-15 s there was no visible change, the spectrum median frequency increased in areas close to antenna; after 20-40 s, a slow-wave activity (2.5-6.0 Hz) appeared in the contralateral frontal and temporal areas. These slow waves lasting for about one second repeated every 15-20 s at the same recording electrodes. After turning off the mobile phone, slow-wave activity progressively disappeared; local changes such as increased median frequency decreased and disappeared after 15-20 min. We observed similar changes in children, but the slow-waves with higher amplitude appeared earlier in children (10-20 s) than adults, and their frequency was lower (1.0-2.5 Hz) with longer duration and shorter intervals. The results suggested that cellular phones may reversibly influence the human brain, inducing abnormal slow waves in EEG of awake persons.

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 typerandomized_trial

Effect directionharm

PopulationAwake human subjects (adults and children mentioned)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · EEG changes described after 10–15 s, 20–40 s; effects resolved within 15–20 min after phone off

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 66% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Using a 16-channel telemetric EEG system during mobile phone EMF exposure, the spectrum median frequency increased in areas close to the antenna after ~10–15 s, and slow-wave activity appeared after ~20–40 s in contralateral frontal and temporal areas, repeating intermittently. After turning off the phone, slow-wave activity progressively disappeared and local changes resolved within ~15–20 min; similar but earlier and lower-frequency/higher-amplitude slow waves were described in children.

Outcomes measured

EEG spectrum median frequency changes
Slow-wave EEG activity (adults: 2.5–6.0 Hz; children: 1.0–2.5 Hz)
Spatial distribution of EEG changes relative to phone antenna (ipsilateral/contralateral regions)

Limitations

No frequency or SAR/exposure level reported in the abstract
Sample size and participant selection not reported
Study design details (e.g., randomization, blinding, sham exposure) not described in the abstract
Potential for residual artifacts/confounding despite use of telemetric EEG not addressed in the abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "randomized_trial",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "EEG changes described after 10–15 s, 20–40 s; effects resolved within 15–20 min after phone off"
  },
  "population": "Awake human subjects (adults and children mentioned)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "EEG spectrum median frequency changes",
    "Slow-wave EEG activity (adults: 2.5–6.0 Hz; children: 1.0–2.5 Hz)",
    "Spatial distribution of EEG changes relative to phone antenna (ipsilateral/contralateral regions)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Using a 16-channel telemetric EEG system during mobile phone EMF exposure, the spectrum median frequency increased in areas close to the antenna after ~10–15 s, and slow-wave activity appeared after ~20–40 s in contralateral frontal and temporal areas, repeating intermittently. After turning off the phone, slow-wave activity progressively disappeared and local changes resolved within ~15–20 min; similar but earlier and lower-frequency/higher-amplitude slow waves were described in children.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "No frequency or SAR/exposure level reported in the abstract",
    "Sample size and participant selection not reported",
    "Study design details (e.g., randomization, blinding, sham exposure) not described in the abstract",
    "Potential for residual artifacts/confounding despite use of telemetric EEG not addressed in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.66,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "mobile phone",
    "radiofrequency",
    "high-frequency electromagnetic fields",
    "EEG",
    "telemetric electroencephalograph",
    "slow waves",
    "children",
    "adults"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.32,
      "reason": "Human study assessing brain/EEG effects from mobile phone RF exposure, relevant to RF health risk evaluation frameworks."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1080/00207450390220330
PubMed: 12881192

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