Aim of study (according to author)
To study the impact of a 60 Hz, 3 mT magnetic field on human cognitive performance (both correctness of response and speed of completion).
Background/further details:
99 subjects participated (60 female, 39 male). The participants were randomly assigned to one of three experimental groups, which determined the order and presence of the magnetic field exposure conditions: group 1 (sham exposure/sham exposure), group 2 (exposure/sham exposure), and group 3 (sham exposure/exposure).
Endpoint
Exposure
General category: magnetic field, low frequency field, 50/60 Hz (AC)
| Field characteristics | Parameters |
|---|---|
| 60 Hz exposure duration: continuous for a 30 min block before or following a sham exposure block (also 30 min) with a 30 min rest period in between | magnetic flux density: 3 mT effective value |
Exposed system:
human
whole body exposure
Methods
Endpoint/Measurement parameters/Methodology
Main outcome of study (according to author)
Performance between repetitions (the two (sham) exposure blocks) improved in 11 of 15 psychometric parameters (practice effect). A significant effect on the digit span forward test (see digit span test) revealed an absence of practice effects for both exposure groups but not the control group. This memory test indicates magnetic field-induced abolition of the improvement associated with practice. Overall, the data do not indicate any clear magnetic field effect on human cognition.
(Study character: medical/biological study, experimental study, full/main study, double-blind study)
Study funded by
© 1997 - 2013, Research Center for Bioelectromagnetic Interaction (femu - RWTH Aachen University, Germany).
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