Acute exposure to radiofrequency signals did not significantly affect heart rate variability or skin conductance parameters in electrohypersensitive individuals compared to sham exposure.
RCT (n=55)
Double-blind
Counterbalanced
Does acute exposure to radiofrequency signals modify autonomic nervous system activity in electrohypersensitive individuals?
Autonomic nervous system activity, measured by heart rate variability and skin conductance, does not differ between electrohypersensitive individuals and controls, nor is it affected by acute exposure to environmental radiofrequency signals.
The aim of the study was twofold: first, to compare the activity of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) between the population self-declared as electrohypersensitive (EHS) and their matched control individuals without intended exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF). The second objective was to determine whether acute exposure to different radiofrequency signals modifies ANS activity in EHS. For that purpose, two different experiments were undertaken, in which ANS activity was assessed through heart rate variability (HRV) and skin conductance (SC). In the first experiment, a comparison between the EHS group ( n = 30) and the control group ( n = 25) showed that the EHS has an increased number of responses to auditory stimuli as measured by skin conductance activity, and that none of the short-term heart rate variability parameters differ between the two matched study groups. The second experiment, performed in a shielded chamber, involved 10 EHS from the first experiment. The volunteers participated in two different sessions (sham and exposure). The participants were consecutively exposed to four EMF signals (GSM 900, GSM 1800, DECT, and Wi-Fi) at environmental level (1 V/m). The experiment was double blinded and counterbalanced. The HRV variables studied did not differ between the two sessions. Concerning electrodermal activity, the data issued from skin conductance and tonic activity did not differ between the sessions, but showed a time variability. In conclusion, the HRV and SC profiles did not significantly differ between the EHS and control populations under no exposure. Exposure did not have an effect on the ANS parameters we have explored. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study provided analysis on the skin conductance parameters using a newly developed method (peak/min, extraction of skin conductance responses) that had not been performed previously. Additionally, the skin conductance signal was decomposed, considering tonic and phasic activities to be a distinct compound. Moreover, this is the first time a study has been designed into two steps to understand whether the autonomic nervous system is disturbed in the EHS population.
Andrianome et al. (Thu,) conducted a rct in Electrohypersensitivity (n=55). Radiofrequency signals (GSM 900, GSM 1800, DECT, and Wi-Fi) vs. Sham exposure was evaluated on Autonomic nervous system activity assessed through heart rate variability (HRV) and skin conductance (SC). Acute exposure to radiofrequency signals did not significantly affect heart rate variability or skin conductance parameters in electrohypersensitive individuals compared to sham exposure.