The Effect of 5G Mobile Phone Electromagnetic Exposure on Corticospinal and Intracortical Excitability in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

TL;DR

This pilot study found no significant effects of short-term 5G phone exposure on brain excitability in healthy adults.

Contribution

The study is the first to investigate 5G electromagnetic exposure effects on corticospinal and intracortical mechanisms in humans.

Findings

No significant changes in corticospinal or intracortical excitability after 5 or 20 minutes of 5G exposure.

Bayesian analysis showed inconclusive evidence for or against an effect of 5G exposure.

Results suggest potential effects may be subtle and require more sensitive methods to detect.

Abstract

Background: Research on the impact of 5G mobile phone electromagnetic exposure on corticospinal excitability and intracortical mechanisms is still poorly understood. Objective: This randomized controlled pilot study explored the effects of 5G mobile phone exposure at 3.6 GHz (power density: 0.0030 W/m2) on corticospinal excitability and intracortical mechanisms in healthy adults. Methods: Nineteen healthy participants (mean age: 36.5 years) were exposed to 5G mobile phone exposure for 5 and 20 min, approximating the typical duration of a phone call. Corticospinal excitability, intracortical facilitation, short intracortical inhibition, and long intracortical inhibition using single- and paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation assessed before and immediately after exposure were performed. Results: A two-way repeated-measures ANOVA revealed no significant interactions between exposure condition (5 min, 20 min, sham) and time (pre vs. post) for CSE, ICF, SICI, or LICI (all p > 0.15). Bayesian analyses yielded Bayes factors close to 1, indicating inconclusive evidence for both the null and alternative hypotheses. Conclusion: Short-term exposure to 5G mobile phone electromagnetic fields did not produce detectable changes in corticospinal or intracortical excitability. Bayesian evidence was similarly inconclusive (Bayes factors ≈ 1), suggesting that the data provide limited support for either the presence or absence of a detectable effect. Any potential influence of 5G exposure on neural function is therefore likely to be subtle with the present methods. As a pilot study, these findings should be interpreted cautiously and underscore the need for further research using more sensitive outcome measures, extended exposure durations, and vulnerable populations.

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