No Alteration Between Intrinsic Connectivity Networks by a Pilot Study on Localized Exposure to the Fourth-Generation Wireless Communication Signals

Abstract

Neurophysiological effect of human exposure to radiofrequency signals has attracted considerable attention, which was claimed to have an association with a series of clinical symptoms. A few investigations have been conducted on alteration of brain functions, yet no known research focused on intrinsic connectivity networks, an attribute that may relate to some behavioral functions. To investigate the exposure effect on functional connectivity between intrinsic connectivity networks, we conducted experiments with seventeen participants experiencing localized head exposure to real and sham time-division long-term evolution signal for 30 min. The resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were collected before and after exposure, respectively. Group-level independent component analysis was used to decompose networks of interest. Three states were clustered, which can reflect different cognitive conditions. Dynamic connectivity as well as conventional connectivity between networks per state were computed and followed by paired sample t-tests. Results showed that there was no statistical difference in static or dynamic functional network connectivity in both real and sham exposure conditions, and pointed out that the impact of short-term electromagnetic exposure was undetected at the ICNs level. The specific brain parcellations and metrics used in the study may lead to different results on brain modulation.

Biological effects of exposure to 2650 MHz electromagnetic radiation on the behavior, learning, and memory of mice

“…Evidence from previous studies indicates that exposure to EMR in experimental animals can cause changes in their behaviors, such as EMR (1.8 GHz), which is associated with anxiety-like and depressionlike behaviors in mice (Gupta et al 2019;. Yang et al (2022) found that there was no significant difference in static or dynamic functional network connectivity in both real and sham exposure conditions and noted that the impact of short-term electromagnetic exposure was undetected at the ICNs level. These changes depend largely on the duration, frequency, and intensity of EMR exposure.…”

“…Yang et al. (2022) found that there was no significant difference in static or dynamic functional network connectivity in both real and sham exposure conditions and noted that the impact of short‐term electromagnetic exposure was undetected at the ICNs level. These changes depend largely on the duration, frequency, and intensity of EMR exposure.…”