Effect of microwave radiation on human EEG at two different levels of exposure.

Bioelectromagnetics · 2013 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 6517

Study snapshot

PublicationBioelectromagnetics · 2013

Study typerandomized_trial

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

This study is aimed at evaluating the effect of microwave radiation on human brain bioelectric activity at different levels of exposure. For this purpose, 450 MHz microwave exposure modulated at 40 Hz frequency was applied to a group of 15 healthy volunteers at two different specific absorption rate (SAR) levels: a higher level of 0.303 W/kg (field strength 24.5 V/m) and a lower level of 0.003 W/kg (field strength 2.45 V/m). Ten exposure cycles (1 min off and 1 min on) at fixed SAR values were applied. A resting eyes-closed electroencephalogram (EEG) was continuously recorded. Results showed a statistically significant increase in the EEG power in the EEG beta2 (157%), beta1 (61%) and alpha (68%) frequency bands at the higher SAR level, and in the beta2 (39%) frequency band at the lower SAR level. Statistically significant changes were detected for six individual subjects in the EEG alpha band and four subjects in the beta1 and beta2 bands at the higher SAR level; three subjects were affected in the alpha, beta1 and beta2 bands at the lower SAR level. The study showed that decreasing the SAR 100 times reduced the related changes in the EEG three to six times and the number of affected subjects, but did not exclude the effect.

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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 directionmixed

Population15 healthy volunteers

Sample size15

Exposuremicrowave · 450 MHz · Ten exposure cycles (1 min off and 1 min on)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

450 MHz exposure (40 Hz modulation) was associated with statistically significant increases in EEG power at the higher SAR level (0.303 W/kg) in beta2 (157%), beta1 (61%), and alpha (68%) bands, and at the lower SAR level (0.003 W/kg) in the beta2 (39%) band. Decreasing SAR by 100-fold reduced the magnitude of EEG changes (reported as 3–6 times) and the number of affected subjects, but effects were still reported.

Outcomes measured

EEG power (resting eyes-closed)
EEG frequency bands: alpha, beta1, beta2

Limitations

Small sample size (n=15)
Exposure source/context not specified in abstract
Randomization/blinding/sham control not described in abstract
Short exposure duration (1-min on/off cycles)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "randomized_trial",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "microwave",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 450,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "Ten exposure cycles (1 min off and 1 min on)"
  },
  "population": "15 healthy volunteers",
  "sample_size": 15,
  "outcomes": [
    "EEG power (resting eyes-closed)",
    "EEG frequency bands: alpha, beta1, beta2"
  ],
  "main_findings": "450 MHz exposure (40 Hz modulation) was associated with statistically significant increases in EEG power at the higher SAR level (0.303 W/kg) in beta2 (157%), beta1 (61%), and alpha (68%) bands, and at the lower SAR level (0.003 W/kg) in the beta2 (39%) band. Decreasing SAR by 100-fold reduced the magnitude of EEG changes (reported as 3–6 times) and the number of affected subjects, but effects were still reported.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Small sample size (n=15)",
    "Exposure source/context not specified in abstract",
    "Randomization/blinding/sham control not described in abstract",
    "Short exposure duration (1-min on/off cycles)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "microwave radiation",
    "450 MHz",
    "40 Hz modulation",
    "specific absorption rate",
    "SAR",
    "EEG",
    "alpha band",
    "beta band",
    "healthy volunteers"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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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: 10.1002/bem.21772
PubMed: 23280729

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