Why the study?
Following prior findings of increased EEG theta power during 1-min extremely low frequency electric field treatment, this study aimed to assess the effects of a longer treatment duration.
Does a 20-minute extremely low frequency electric field treatment alter EEG and HRV in healthy men?
Does a 20-minute extremely low frequency electric field treatment alter EEG and HRV in healthy men?
A 20-minute extremely low frequency electric field treatment transiently alters brain and autonomic activity, increasing EEG alpha/theta power and HRV low-frequency components while decreasing heart rate.
Transient EEG/HRV shifts in healthy volunteers do not support clinical adoption; leaves open therapeutic relevance in patients.
Our previous study examined the neural effects of extremely low frequency electric field (ELF‐EF) using electroencephalogram (EEG) and heart rate variability (HRV) measurement and revealed that the theta power of EEG increases during 1‐min EF treatment (30 kV and 50 Hz). In the present study, the effects of a longer treatment duration were assessed. EF was applied between two electrodes, one above the head and the other under the feet, for 20 min to 10 healthy men sitting on a chair. Occipital EEG and HRV were measured in the eyes‐open condition. Power spectrum analysis showed that during the EF treatment, the power of alpha and theta rhythms as well as the low frequency component of HRV increased, and the heart rate decreased. These effects did not persist after the end of EF treatment. It is suggested that ELF‐EF treatment alters not only the brain activity but also the autonomic activity reflected in HRV.
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Shinba et al. (2022) studied this question.
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