Does acute RF EMF exposure affect visual event-related potentials in healthy adults?

Authors: Dalecki A, Loughran SP, Verrender A, Burdon CA, Taylor NAS, Croft RJ

Year: May 2018

Category: Clinical Neurophysiology

Journal: Clinical Neurophysiology

Institution: National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, Electric Power Research Institute

DOI: S1388245718301044

URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1388245718301044

Abstract

Overview

The study investigates if acute radio-frequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMF) influence sensory and cognitive processes as shown by event-related potentials (ERPs) in adults.

Objective

To explore whether early (80-200 ms) sensory processes and later (180-600 ms) cognitive processes are impacted by RF-EMF by examining changes in event-related potentials (ERPs).

Methods

Thirty-six healthy participants engaged in a visual discrimination task under various conditions:

Sham exposure: 0 W/kg body mass.
Low RF: 1 W/kg body mass.
High RF: 2 W/kg body mass.

The study employed a fully randomised, counterbalanced, double-blind design to ensure reliability and validity of results.

Findings

RF-EMF exposure was linked to reduced P1 amplitude (p = .02) and increased anterior N1 latency (p = .04).
No significant effects were observed on other ERP amplitudes or latencies, suggesting minimal impact on the tested parameters.

Conclusion

Although acute RF-EMF exposure may affect early perceptual and some preparatory motor processes, only a minor number of ERP indices show changes. The findings raise concerns about potential effects on brain function, though further studies are necessary to draw definitive conclusions.

EMF ERP RF-EMF exposure sensory processing cognitive processes mobile communications neurology

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