Abstract

Overview

Extremely high frequency electromagnetic fields (EHF-EMF) have been shown to influence biological systems, but effects on the nervous system particularly need more investigation for potential health implications.

Findings

• This study uses an innovative artificial axon model based on parallel RC networks with an aqueous solution of lipid vesicles containing varying concentrations of potassium (K+).
• Exposure to EHF-EMF (53.37 GHz at 39 mW) increased the amplitude of electrical signals by inducing potassium efflux from lipid vesicles.
• Furthermore, the study highlights that EHF-EMF potentiates the effect of valinomycin (a K+ carrier), thus enhancing the potassium transport across the lipid membranes further facilitating electrical signal propagation.

Conclusion

The findings support that EHF-EMF accelerates neural-like electrical signal propagation by enhancing transmembrane potassium efflux, indicating potential health risks due to frequency-dependent EMF exposure. The artificial axon model is proposed as a viable tool for future research on varying EMF frequencies' effects on neural systems.