EEG spectral asymmetry index reveals effect of microwave radiation

Abstract

This study is aimed to test the EEG spectral asymmetry index (SASI) in different brain states. The SASI parameter was previously developed for depressive disorder. In this study it was assumed that microwave exposure can alter the brain state and the SASI could estimate the changes. For this, 15 healthy subjects were exposed to 450 MHz microwave radiation modulated at 40 Hz and 70 Hz frequencies. The field power density at the scalp was 0.16 mW/cm 2. The analysis revealed significant rise in SASI value caused by 40 Hz modulated microwave for the whole group. Microwave modulated at 70 Hz also raised the SASI level, however the increase did not reach the level of significance. Despite the large increase in average SASI level, it still remained negative while in case of depressive disorder the SASI level was positive. Experimental results confirm that the EEG SASI detects changes in the brain state caused by different reasons. © 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.