Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Radiofrequency signal affects alpha band in resting electroencephalogram med./bio.

By: Ghosn R, Yahia-Cherif L, Hugueville L, Ducorps A, Lemarechal JD, Thuroczy G, de Seze R, Selmaoui B

Published in: J Neurophysiol 2015; 113 (7): 2753-2759

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The effects of exposure of subjects to a 900 MHz electromagnetic field (GSM) on the brain activity should be investigated in a resting EEG.

Background/further details

26 subjects (13 male, 13 female) participated in 2 sessions, respectively: exposure and sham exposure. Each session was divided into a pre-exposure part, an exposure/sham exposure part and a post-exposure part. During each part, the resting EEG with open eyes and with closed eyes was measured repeatedly in separate runs for 3 minutes per run, respectively. Two runs were measured during the pre- and post-exposure parts, respectively, and 3 runs were measured during the exposure/sham exposure part.

Endpoint

effects on the neurological system: alpha waves in the resting EEG

Exposure

- 900 MHz
- mobile communications
- mobile phone
- GSM

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: continuous for 26 minutes	power: 2 W peak value power: 250 mW mean SAR: 0.49 W/kg maximum (10 g) SAR: 0.7 W/kg maximum (1 g) SAR: 0.93 W/kg peak value

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	900 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 26 minutes
Additional info	GSM

Modulation

Modulation type	pulsed
Duty cycle	12.5 %

Exposure setup

Exposure source	cellular phone Nokia 6650
Chamber	dimly lit, electrically shielded room
Setup	mobile phone was positioned against the left ear of subject and connected to a PC to control exposure; subjects were seated in a comfortable chair and a screen was placed in front of them to keep their eyes in a well-defined direction; interference of EEG electrodes with mobile phone was controlled; electrode impedance was controlled
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
power	2 W	peak value	-	-	-
power	250 mW	mean	-	-	-
SAR	0.49 W/kg	maximum	measured	10 g	-
SAR	0.7 W/kg	maximum	measured	1 g	-
SAR	0.93 W/kg	peak value	measured	-	-

Additional parameter details

the SAR during sham exposure was below the detection limit (<0.001 W/kg) and no electric field was detected on the surface of the "sham" phone

Reference articles

Ghosn R et al. (2012): Effects of GSM 900 MHz on middle cerebral artery blood flow assessed by transcranial Doppler sonography

Exposed system:

human
partial body: head

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

effects on the cardiovascular system: heart rate (ECG)
endocrine changes: cortisol concentration in saliva (at the beginning and at the end of each session; ELISA)
effects on the neurological system: brain activity (total, upper (10-12 Hz) and lower (8-10 Hz) alpha wave power in resting EEG with open and closed eyes; eye movement (EOG))
caffeine concentration in saliva (at the beginning of each session; HPLC), electrodermal activity (results not presented in the article)

Investigated system:

isolated bio./chem. substance
saliva
investigation on living organism

Investigated organ system:

Time of investigation:

before exposure
during exposure
after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

During the exposure and post-exposure part, the alpha wave power was significantly decreased in the EEG with closed eyes in the exposure session compared to the sham exposure session. All other parameters did not show any significant differences between exposure and sham exposure.
The authors conclude that exposure to a 900 MHz electromagnetic field (GSM) might influence alpha waves in the resting EEG and thus the brain activity.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study
double-blind study, cross-over study

Study funded by

Institut National de L'Environnement Industriel et des Risques (INERIS), France
Ministère de l'Ecologie et du Developpement Durable (Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development), France

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