WI-FI ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS EXERT GENDER RELATED ALTERATIONS ON EEG

Abstract

Efesiou (PO Box 66 517) Athens, 15601, GREECE, Tel: ++30210-6536902, Fax: ++30210-6537273 Abstract The present study investigated the influence of electromagnetic fields, similar to that emitted by Wi-Fi system, on brain activity. Fifteen female and fifteen male subjects performed a short memory task (Wechsler test), both without and with exposure to a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi signal. For each subject, radiation condition and electrode, the amplitude in the frequency domain of the EEG signal was calculated from the recordings of 30 scalp electrodes, using the Fourier transform. The presence of radiation had no effect on the energies of alpha and beta band of male subjects, while it reduced these energies of female subjects, resulting in significantly lower energies, as compared to those of males. Delta and theta band energies did not experience any noteworthy effect from gender, radiation condition and their interaction. Conversely, there was a significant interaction effect (gender x radiation) on the energies of alpha and beta rhythms. Interestingly, this pattern was observed for a number of electrodes, which formed two distinct clusters . one located at right-anterior and the second at occipital brain areas. The present data support the idea that Wi-Fi signal may influence normal physiology through changes in gender related cortical excitability, as reflected by alpha and beta EEG frequencies. A. MAGANIOTI ET AL.

Full text

WI-FI ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS EXERT GENDER
RELATED ALTERATIONS ON EEG
ARGIRO E. MAGANIOTI 1, CHARALABOS C. PAPAGEORGIOU 2,3,
CHRISSANTHI D. HOUNTALA 1, MILTIADES A. KYPRIANOU 3,
ANDREAS D. RABAVILAS 3, GEORGE N. PAPADIMITRIOU 2,
CHRISTOS N. CAPSALIS 1
1 NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS, DEPARTMENT OF
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING, DIVISION OF INFORMATION TRANSMISSION
SYSTEMS AND MATERIAL TECHNOLOGY, 9 Iroon Polytecneioy str., Athens, 15773,
GREECE, Tel: ++30210-7722574, Fax: ++30210-7723520
2 UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS,1ST DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY, EGINITION
HOSPITAL, 74 Vas.Sophias Ave., Athens, 11528, GREECE
3 UNIVERSITY MENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH INSTITUTE (UMHRI), 2 Soranou tou
Efesiou (PO Box 66 517) Athens, 15601, GREECE, Tel: ++30210-6536902, Fax: ++30210-
6537273
Abstract
The present study investigated the influence of electromagnetic fields, similar to that emitted by Wi-Fi system,
on brain activity. Fifteen female and fifteen male subjects performed a short memory task (Wechsler test), both
without and with exposure to a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi signal. For each subject, radiation condition and electrode, the
amplitude in the frequency domain of the EEG signal was calculated from the recordings of 30 scalp electrodes,
using the Fourier transform.
The presence of radiation had no effect on the energies of alpha and beta band of male subjects, while it reduced
these energies of female subjects, resulting in significantly lower energies, as compared to those of males.
Delta and theta band energies did not experience any noteworthy effect from gender, radiation condition and
their interaction. Conversely, there was a significant interaction effect (gender x radiation) on the energies of
alpha and beta rhythms.
Interestingly, this pattern was observed for a number of electrodes, which formed two distinct clusters. one
located at right- anterior and the second at occipital brain areas.
The present data support the idea that Wi-Fi signal may influence normal physiology through changes in gender
related cortical excitability, as reflected by alpha and beta EEG frequencies.

A. MAGANIOTI ET AL.
1. INTRODUCTION
A lot of research has been done in the last years on the possible effects of Radio Frequency Electromagnetic
Fields (RF - EMF) on biological matter. The majority of this research regards the potential health impacts of cell
phones and other mobile communication emitters.
There are several studies involving subjects who perform various tasks while exposed to RF [1-6], which
conclude that some aspects of cognitive function and some measures of brain physiology may be affected by the
exposure to RF of the type emitted by cellular phones. Interestingly, the RF effect was found to be gender related
[7, 8].
Based on the reviewed publications examining possible biological effects of RF exposure, the evidence suggests
that the exposure to RF affect the human brain and its subsequent output in the form of cognition and behavior.
This assumption is in line with recent reviews by Cook et al., (2006) and Valentini et al., (2007) [9, 10].
However, there are also reports contradicting this assumption Kleinlogel et al., (2008) [11].
Very common and constantly increasing sources of RF exposure are wireless networks that allow high-speed
internet access and services, such as Wi-Fi. Inevitably, there has been concern about possible health effects from
such exposure; however little research has been devoted to investigate the possible effects of Wi-Fi signal on
biological systems.
Most of the studies that have been conducted, investigating the biological effects of Wi-Fi on humans, are
mainly dealing with the amount of energy absorbed in human tissue and therefore limited in the measurement of
the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR). There are also dosimetry studies ongoing, measuring RF levels around the
globe, including that coming from wireless local area networks (WLANs) [12] and others which indicate that the
exposure level is low compared to other sources [13]. Another approach, involved experimental procedures for
whole-body RF exposure of animals in order to investigate the possible effects of Wi-Fi signal on biological
systems [14].
In view of the above considerations, it can be hypothesized that the electrophysiological brain activity, as
reflected by Electroencephalography (EEG) – alpha, beta, theta, delta bands – in association with cognitive task
operations, could be of value in identifying possible pathophysiological alterations evoked by Wi-Fi signals and
their connection with gender. Thus, the present study was designed to determine whether the presence of Wi-Fi
signal affects the patterns of EEG activity elicited during a short memory task (Wechsler test).
2. METHODS
2.1. Participants
Thirty healthy individuals (15 men and 15 women, mean age = 23.76 ± 1.67 years, mean education = 16.9 ± 1.06
years) participated in the experiment. The participants were homogeneous with regards to age and educational
level and had no history of any hearing problem. Informed consent was obtained from all subjects.
2.2. Experimental setup and Measurement Procedure
The subjects were evaluated with the digit span Wechsler Auditory test. A warning stimulus of either high (3000
Hz) or low frequency (500 Hz) was presented through earphones to the subjects, who were asked to memorize
the numbers that followed. The warning stimulus lasted 100msec. A one second interval followed the onset of
the warning stimulus and then the numbers to be memorized were presented by a female voice. At the end of the
number sequence presentation, the same signal tone was repeated. The signals were recorded for a 1500msec
interval, which means 500msec before the warning stimulus (EEG) and 1000msec after that (ERP), as described
in previous articles [8, 15]. The numbers were recalled by the subject in the same (low frequency tone) or in the
opposite order (high frequency tone) than that presented to the participant. The total task consisted of 52
repetitions for a period of about 45min. The subjects performed the tasks twice, with and without radiation, with
an interval of two weeks between the measurements. The order in which the subject was exposed at the EMF
(exposure at the first or second visit) was random. The EMF was emitted by a Wi-Fi access point that was
operating at 2.4 GHz frequency. The Wi-Fi signal was radiated by a dual dipole antenna, with 20dBm power and

WI-FI EXERT GENDER RELATED ALTERATIONS ON EEG
OFDM modulation. The access point was placed at a distance of 1.5m from the right part of their head. The field
strength was 0.49V/m at the point where the subjects’ head was standing. According to E. Kapareliotis et al. [16]
there is no evidence that a Wi-Fi signal causes interference at the EEG recordings at the distance of 1.5m from
the EEG electrodes.
The experiment was conducted in a Faraday room, which screened any electromagnetic interference that could
affect the measurements. The attenuation of the mean field was more than 30 dB.
Figure1. Experimental Setup
The electrophysiological signals were recorded with Ag/AgCl electrodes. Electrode resistance was kept
constantly below 5 kΩ. EEG activity was recorded from 30 scalp electrodes (FC6, FC2 F8, F4, Fz, AFz, Fp2, Fz,
Fp1, P3, T3, FC1, FC5, F3, F7, T6, P4, CP6, CP2, T4, C4, O2, Oz, O1, Pz, Cz, T5, CP1, CP5, C3) based on the
International 10-20 system of Electroencephalography [17], referred to both earlobes. Linked ear lobes served as
reference. The bandwidth of the amplifiers was set at 0.05 – 35 Hz. Eye movements were recorded with the use
of electro-oculogram (EOG) and recordings with EEG higher than 75 μV were excluded. The evoked bio
potential signal was submitted to an analogue-to-digital conversion, at a sampling rate of 1 KHz and was
averaged by a computerized system.
2.3. Data Transformation
For each question 1500 data points, each corresponding to time segments of 1msec duration for each electrode
were saved. In order to optimize the signal to noise ratio for each subject and each channel all EEG values were
average referenced on the basis of the grand average across the 52 repetitions of the EEG values. This procedure
was done separately for each EMF condition. The final data for analysis for each subject and condition consisted
of 1500 amplitude values for each electrode, expressed in μVolts corresponding to the 1500msec of the time
period [8, 15], 500ms before the onset of the first warning stimulus (EEG), and 1000 ms after the onset (ERP).
For each subject, each radiation condition and each electrode, the amplitude in the frequency domain was
calculated using the Fourier transform (FFT) (EEG). This analysis confirmed the expected pattern of the spectral
distribution of the signals, with the appearance of peaks within the range of the four basic rhythms d (0–4 Hz), θ
(5–7 Hz), a (8–13 Hz) and b (14–30 Hz) in all EEG series.

A. MAGANIOTI ET AL.
2.4. Statistical analysis
The EEG energies were log-normalized so that their distribution for all the electrodes and both experimental
conditions did not deviate from normality. For each band, the energies at the thirty electrodes were subjected to
multivariate analysis of variance with gender (male-female) and radiation condition (on-off) as the independent
factors, followed by post-hoc pair wise comparisons with Bonferroni corrections. The significance level was set
at 0.05.
3. RESULTS
Multivariate analysis of variance did not reveal any significant effect of gender, radiation condition and their
interaction on the energies of the delta and theta bands. Conversely, there was a significant interaction effect
(gender x radiation) on the energies of the alpha and beta band. The nature of this interaction effect can be
clarified by Figure 2, which shows the average values at the alpha band for male and female subjects, for the two
radiation conditions at electrode F8. As this figure shows, at the absence of EMF the alpha band energies of the
two genders are practically the same. The presence of radiation did not have any effect on the energy of male
subjects, whereas it reduced the energy of female subjects, resulting in a significantly lower energy, as compared
to the energy of male subjects.
Figure 2. Average values at the alpha band for male and female subjects, for the two radiation conditions at electrode F8
The same pattern was observed for a number of electrodes (FC6, F8, Fp2, Fpz, C4, O2, Oz and O1). As Figure 3
shows these electrodes form two distinct clusters, one located at right- anterior and the second at occipital brain
areas. Interestingly, analysis revealed that the beta band energies have practically the same behavior.

WI-FI EXERT GENDER RELATED ALTERATIONS ON EEG
Figure3. p-values of the differences between male and female subjects in the absence and presence of the Wi-Fi signal
3. SUMMARY - DISCUSSION
The comparison between experimental conditions showed that the presence of radiation did not have any effect
on the energies of the alpha and beta band of male subjects, while it reduced these energies of female subjects,
resulting in significantly lower energies, as compared to the energies of male subjects.
Additionally, the energies of the delta and theta bands did not experience any significant effect from gender,
radiation condition and their interaction. Conversely, there was a significant interaction effect (gender x
radiation) on the energies of the alpha and beta rhythms.
Interestingly, this pattern was observed for a number of electrodes, which formed two distinct clusters, one
located at right-anterior and the second at occipital brain areas.
The results of the present study may be interpreted in the light of the psycho physiological and brain-imaging
studies related to EEG functional anatomy. The quantification of EEG was proven a useful and appropriate
method in measuring the level and topographical distribution of cortical activation during cognitive task
performance. In general, the functional significance of varying brain activity can be seen in the vicinity to the
underlying neural circuits. For instance, it is assumed that alpha band activity reflects an increased excitability
level of neurons in the certain cortical areas, which may be related to an enhanced information transfer in
thalamocortical circuits and is strongly correlated with working memory as well as with long-term memory
engramms [18-21]. Beta bursts being related to cortico-cortical interactions shift the system to an attention state
that consequently allows for gamma synchronization and perception [22-24].
The effect of Wi-Fi exposure (significant interaction effect -gender x radiation-on the energies of the alpha and
beta bands) are in accordance with previous studies of our team regarding gender related differences in the EEG
under EMF exposure of 900MHz and 1800MHz similar to that of mobile phones [8, 15, 25, 26, 5, 7]. Also
Smythe and Costall (2003) [27] have reported sex-dependent effects of EMF exposure on human memory during
a memory task.
Although, the biological basis for these sex differences remains elusive, emerging evidence provides plausible
mechanisms for the explanation of these differences. In particular, central nervous system effects of EMFs have
been considered to be secondary to damage to the blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability [28-31].At this point
is reasonable to consider the existence of gender-related blood-barrier differences, a fact which would explain
the fundamental differences between males and females in the intrinsic cognitive processes and in the way they
are affected by different types of electromagnetic radiation [32-34]. Furthermore research also indicates that
EMF exposure affects the melatonin release, specifically it has been demonstrated a reduced excretion of the
urinary metabolite of melatonin among persons using a mobile phone for more than 25 min per day [35]. This
observation would be better understood taking into account that in a study of pubertal individuals it has been

A. MAGANIOTI ET AL.
found significantly higher total, nocturnal and diurnal 6-sulfatoxymelatonin excretion in girls [36].
It is concluded that Wi-Fi may influence normal physiology through changes in gender related cortical
excitability as it is reflected by the alpha and beta EEG frequencies.
4. REFERENCES
[1] D. Hamblin, A. Wood, R. Croft, C. Stough, Examining the effects ofelectromagnetic fields emitted by GSM
mobile phones on human event-related potentials and performance during an auditory task, Clinical
Neurophysiology 115 (2004) 171-178.
[2] R. Jech, K. Sonka, E. Ruzicka, A. Nebuzelsky, J. Bohm, M. Juklickova, S. Nevsimalova, Electromagnetic
field of mobile phones affects visual event related potential in patients with narcolepsy, Bioelectromagnetics 22
(2001) 519-528.
[3] C. Krause, L. Sillanmaki, M. Koivisto, A. Haggqvist, C. Saarela, A. Revonsuo, M. Laine, H. Hamalainen,
Effects of electromagnetic field emitted by cellular phones on the EEG during a memory task, Neuroreport 11
(2000) 761-764.
[4] E. Maby, R. Le Bouquin Jeannes, G. Faucon, Short-term effects of GSM mobile phones on spectral
components of the human electroencephalogram, Proceedings of Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society
(2006) 3751-3754.
[5] A. Maganioti, C. Hountala, C. Papageorgiou, A. Rabavilas, G. Papadimitriou, C. Capsalis, Cointegration of
ERP signals in experiments with different EMF conditions, Health 2 (2010) 400-406.
[6] C. Papageorgiou, E. Nanou, V. Tsiafakis, E. Kapareliotis, K. Kontoangelos, C. Capsalis, A. Rabavilas, C.
Soldatos, Acute mobile phone effects on pre-attentive operation, , Neuroscience Letters 397 (2006) 99-103.
[7] A. Maganioti, C. Hountala, C. Papageorgiou, M. Kyprianou, A. Rabavilas, C. Capsalis, Principal component
analysis of the p600 waveform: RF and gender effects, Neuroscience Letters 478 (2010) 19-23.
[8] C. Papageorgiou, E. Nanou, V. Tsiafakis, C. Capsalis, A. Rabavilas, Gender related differences on the EEG
during a simulated mobile phone signal, Neuroreport 15 (2004) 2557-2560.
[9] C. Cook, D. Saucier, A. Thomas, F. Prato, Exposure to ELF magnetic and ELF-modulated radiofrequency
fields: the time course of physiological and cognitive effects observed in recent studies, Bioelectromagnetics 27
(2006) 613-627.
[10] E. Valentini, G. Cursio, F. Moroni, M. Ferrara, L. De Gennaro, M. Bertini, Neurophysiological effects of
mobile phone electromagnetic fields on humans: a comprehensive review, Bioelectromagnetics 28 (2007) 415-
432.
[11] H. Kleinlogel, T. Dierks, T. Koenig, H. Lehmann, A. Minder, R. Berz, Effects of weak mobile phone -
electromagnetic fields (GSM, UMTS) on event related potentials and cognitive functions, Bioelectromagnetics 6
(2008) 488-97.
[12] K. Foster, Radiofrequency Exposure from Wireless LANS Utilizing Wi-Fi Technology, Health Physics 92
(2007) 280-289.
[13] M. Martínez-Búrdalo, A. Martín, A. Sanchis, R. Villar, FDTD assessment of human exposure to
electromagnetic fields from Wi-Fi and bluetooth devices in some operating situations. Bioelectromagnetics 30
(2009) 142-151.
[14] C. Marino, P. Galloni, F. Nasta, R. Pinto, C. Pioli, G. Lovisolo, Measures for the exposure of newborn
animals to Wi-Fi signals, Proceedins of Open questions in the research on biological and health effects of low-
intensity RF-EMF (2008), 12.
[15] E. Nanou, V. Tsiafakis, E. Kapareliotis, C. Papageorgiou, A. Rabavilas, C. Capsalis, Influence of the
interaction of the 900 MHz signal with gender on EEG energy: experimental study on the influence of 900 MHz

WI-FI EXERT GENDER RELATED ALTERATIONS ON EEG
radiation on EEG, Environmentalist 25, (2005) 173-179.
[16] E. Kapareliotis, E. Nanou, V. Tsiafakis, A. Sotiriou, L. Pragiatis, C. Capsalis, Electromagnetic compatibility
between Wi-Fi access point and EEG signals, Proceedings of 4th International Workshop Βiological Effects of
Electromagnetic Fields (2006) 545-551, Crete-Greece.
[17] H. Jasper, The ten-twenty electrode system of the international federation, Electroencephalography Clinical
Neurophysiology 10 (1958) 371–375.
[18] C. Neuper, G. Pfurtscheller, Event-related dynamics of cortical rhythms: frequency-specific features and
functional correlates, International Journal of Psychophysiology 43 (2001) 41-58.
[19] O. Jensen, J. Gelfand,J. Kounios,J. Lisman, Oscillations in the alpha band (9-12 Hz) increase with memory
load during retention in a short-term memory task, Cerebral Cortex. 12 (2002) 877-882.
[20] S. Leiberg, W. Lutzenberger, J. Kaiser, Effects of memory load on cortical oscillatory activity during
auditory pattern working memory. Brain Research 1120 (2006) 131-140.
[21] S. Palva, M. Palva, New vistas for alpha-frequency band oscillations. Trends in Neurosciences 30 (2007)
150-158.
[22] A. Wrobel, Beta activity: a carrier for visual attention, Acta neurobiologiae experimentalis (Wars) 60 (2000)
247-260.
[23] R. Gaillard, S. Dehaene, C. Adam, S. Clémenceau, D. Hasboun, M. Baulac, L. Cohen, L Naccache,
Converging intracranial markers of conscious access, PLoS Biology 7 (2009) e61.
[24] S. Pockett, G. Bold, W. Freeman, EEG synchrony during a perceptual-cognitive task: widespread phase
synchrony at all frequencies, Clinical Neurophysiology 120 (2009) 695-708.
[25] C. Hountala, A. Maganioti, C. Papageorgiou, E. Nanou, M. Kyprianou, V. Tsiafakis, A. Rabavilas, C.
Capsalis, The spectral power coherence of the EEG under different EMF conditions. Neuroscience Letters 441
(2008) 188-192.
[26] E. Nanou C. Hountala, A. Maganioti, C. Papageorgiou,, V. Tsiafakis, A. Rabavilas, C. Capsalis, Influence
of a 1,800 MHz electromagnetic field on the EEG energy, Environmentalist 29 (2009) 205-209.
[27] J. Smythe, B. Costall, Mobile phone use facilitates memory in male, but not female, subjects, Neuroreport
14 (2003) 243-246.
[28] L. Salford, et al., Permeability of the blood brain barrier induced by 915MHz electromagnetic radiation
continuous wave and modulated at 8, 16, 50 and 200 Hz, Microscopy Research and Technique 27 (1994) 535–
542.
[29] A. Schirmacher, Electromagnetic fields (1.8 GHz) increase thepermeability of sucrose of the blood–brain
barrier in vitro, Bioelectromagnetics 21 (2000) 338–345.
[30] L. Salford, A. Brun, et al., Nerve cell damage in mammalian brain after exposure to microwaves from GSM
mobile phones, Environmental Health Perspectives 111 (2003) 881–883.
[31] J. Eberhardt, B. Persson, A. Brun, L. Salford, L. Malmgren, Blood–brain barrier permeability and nerve cell
damage in rat brain 14 and 28 days after exposure to microwaves from GSM mobile phones, Electromagnetic
Biology and Medicine27 (2008) 215–229.
[32] W. Skrandies, P. Reik, C. Kunze, Topography of evoked brain activity during mental arithmetic and
language tasks: sex differences, Neuropsychologia 37 (1999), 421-430.
[33] W. Dimpfel, W. Wedekind, I. Keplinger, Gender difference in electrical brain activity during presentation
of various film excerpts with different emotional content, European Journal of Medical Research 8 (2003): 192-
198.

A. MAGANIOTI ET AL.
[34] M. Briere, G. Forest, S. Chouinard, R. Godbout, Evening and morning EEG differences between young men
and women adults, Brain and Cognition 53 (2003) 145-148.
[35] J. Burch, J. Reif, C. Noonan, T. Ichinose, A. Bachand, T.. Koleber, M. Yost, Melatonin metabolite excretion
among cellulartelephone users, International Journal of Radiation Biology 78 (2002) 1029–1036.
[36] H. Fideleff, H. Boquete, G. Fideleff, L. Albornoz, S. Lloret, M. Suarez, A. Esquifino, M. Honfi, D.
Cardinali, Gender-related differences in urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin levels in obese pubertal individuals,
Journal of pineal research 40 (2006) 214-218.