Effect of mobile phone radiofrequency signal on the alpha rhythm of human waking EEG : A review

Jasmina Wallace (1, 2) , Brahim Selmaoui (1, 2)

1 INERIS - Institut National de l'Environnement Industriel et des Risques
2 PERITOX - Périnatalité et Risques Toxiques - UMR INERIS_I 1

In response to the exponential increase in mobile phone use and the resulting increase in exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF), there have been several studies to investigate via electroencephalography (EEG) whether RF-EMF exposure affects brain activity. Data in the literature have shown that exposure to radiofrequency signals modifies the waking EEG with the main effect on the alpha band frequency (8–13 Hz). However, some studies have reported an increase in alpha band power, while others have shown a decrease, and other studies showed no effect on EEG power. Given that changes in the alpha amplitude are associated with attention and some cognitive aspects of human behavior, researchers deemed necessary to look whether alpha rhythm was modulated under RF-EMF exposure. The present review aims at comparing and discussing the main findings obtained so far regarding RF-EMF effects on alpha rhythm of human waking spontaneous EEG, focusing on differences in protocols between studies, which might explain the observed discrepancies and inconclusive results.

Keywords: RADIOFREQUENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD; MOBILE PHONES; WAKING ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY; SPONTANEOUS ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY; ALPHA RHYTHM

Domains: Life Sciences [q-bio]; Toxicology; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Ecology, environment; Health; Engineering Sciences [physics]; Electromagnetism

Jasmina Wallace, Brahim Selmaoui. Effect of mobile phone radiofrequency signal on the alpha rhythm of human waking EEG : A review. Environmental Research, 2019, 175, pp.274-286. ⟨10.1016/j.envres.2019.05.016⟩. ⟨ineris-03230213⟩