Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Is there a connection between electrosensitivity and electrosensibility? A replication study med./bio.

Published in: Int J Behav Med 2015; 22 (6): 755-763

Aim of study (acc. to author)

A previous study by the authors (Koteles et al. 2013) was replicated and the results should be confirmed. The ability of electrosensitive probands to sense exposure to a 50 Hz magnetic field should be investigated.

Background/further details

Subjects were divided into two groups: 1) subjects with self-reported electrosensitive complaints (n=49, experimental subjects), 2) subjects without electrosensitivity-related complaints (n=57, control subjects). Each participant was tested separately and should discriminate an exposure from a sham exposure of his hand in 20 consecutive test trials (10 exposure and 10 sham exposure trials in a random order) of 1 minute, respectively.
The study design was slightly modified in the present study in comparison to Koteles et al. 2013. In the original study, subjects described their sensings of the magnetic field only after the last test trial, what could have contributed to further bias. In the present study, subjects described their sensings after each individual test trial.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: intermittent 10 times for 1 minute each

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration intermittent 10 times for 1 minute each
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Chamber separated test chamber; power supply of the coils and the control switch were located in an adjacent room equipped with a sound-proof door; coolers of the power supply were operating during the whole experiment
Setup two Helmholtz coils (inner diameter 42 cm, outer diameter 55 cm, made of 240 turns glaze-insulated copper wire (d=1.4 mm)) were placed at 21 cm distance to each other; a homogeneous magnetic field was produced between the coils; subjects put their right hand between the coils (coils below and above hand); exposure of other body parts was minimized by an iron plate positioned between the coil system and the subject; no changes in temperature were measurable (with a tolerance of 0.1°C)
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 500 µT effective value measured - at right hand during exposure
magnetic flux density 1.14 µT - measured - at subject's head during exposure

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Time of investigation:
  • before exposure
  • during exposure
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The detection rate of the magnetic field was not significantly different between electrosensitive subjects (group 1) and control subjects. However, both groups showed a slightly increased detection rate compared to mere chance, which was higher and significant in electrosensitive subjects.
There was no significant difference in the age and cooperation motivation between electrosensitive and control subjects, however, the expectations of perception, the tendency to perceive somatic sensations as intense or disturbing and health worries about radiation were significantly higher in electrosensitive subjects compared to control subjects.
The authors conclude that electrosensitive probands, exposed to a 50 Hz magnetic field, show a slight tendency to sense the magnetic field. This confirmed the results of Koteles et al. 2013. Moreover, results indicated that the reported symptoms correlated with the believed (perceived) presence of the magnetic field rather than with the actual presence of the magnetic field.

Study character:

Study funded by

Replicated studies

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