Can Wi-Fi and wireless impact the brain?

Studies find the brain is sensitive to wireless exposure. Scientists consider the nervous system to be one of the primary systems impacted by wireless and other types of artificial electromagnetic radiation.

Numerous animal experiments have also found wireless exposure damaged brain cells specifically in the brain regions critical to thinking and learning (Sonmez, et al; Odaci, Bas and Kaplan 2008; Odaci et al., 2016; Odaci et al., 2015;  Colakoglu et al., 2009; Saikhedkar et al.,  2014; Kaplan et al., 2010;Kaplan et al., 2009; Sager and Okus 2021; Meenachi et al., 2016).  As another example, a 2022 study, which found cell phone radiation damaged the hippocampus of mice, concluded “our findings suggest that 2400-MHz RF-EMR cell phone radiation affects the structural integrity of the hippocampus, which would lead to behavioral changes such as anxiety… it alerts us to the possible long-term detrimental effects of exposure to RF-EMR.” (Hasan et al., 2021).

Here are some studies to know:

• A National Institutes of Health study made headlines in 2011 when it found cell phone radiation altered brain activity specifically in the brain regions closest to the cell phone antenna.
• Yale Medicine researchers found prenatally exposed mice had poorer memory, hyperactivity, and altered brains.
• A review published in Frontiers in Public Health found effects to several neurotransmitters in the brain, stating, “these studies indicate that EMR can lead to metabolic disorders of monoamine neurotransmitters in the brain, depending on the intensity of radiation exposure, and might in theory result in abnormal emotional behavior.”
• A systematic review of the most recent two decades of scientific evidence published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences found “significant correlation between EMFs [electromagnetic fields] and multiple changes in the electrophysiological properties of diverse neuronal tissues.”
• Research on pregnant women has linked prenatal cell phone radiation exposure to emotional/behavioral problems and hyperactivity in their children.

There are numerous experimental studies indicating that wireless exposure can have serious neurological impacts.

• A study on the brains of rats exposed to Wi-Fi signals (a type of RFR emissions) found impacts to the miRNA in brain tissue. The researchers concluded, “Long-term exposure of 2.4 GHz RF may lead to adverse effects such as neurodegenerative diseases originated from the alteration of some miRNA expression and more studies should be devoted to the effects of RF radiation on miRNA expression levels.”
• Scientists from Afe Babalola University, Nigeria, exposed rats to a WiFi device and found the exposure increased the rats’ anxiety level and affected their locomotor function. The scientists also found changes in the brains of the exposed rat groups. The researchers concluded that, “these data showed that long term exposure to WiFi may lead to adverse effects such as neurodegenerative diseases as observed by a significant alteration on AChE gene expression and some neurobehavioral parameters associated with brain damage.”
• Studies have found that RFR exposure can increase permeability of the blood-brain barrier, thus allowing more toxic agents to reach brain tissue.
• Researchers who investigated the combined effects of the toxic metal lead and cell phone radiation have found combining these exposures associated with increased Attention Deficit Hyperactivity symptoms.

Studies in both humans and animals have linked cell phone radiation and wireless exposure to memory damage.

• In a Swedish study of teenagers where scientists measured the cell phone radiation dose to the brain, just one year of cell phone use was linked to memory damage, replicated from an earlier study.
• A study investigating the impact of Wi-Fi on working memory in human subjects found changes to neural activity after Wi-Fi exposure.
• Numerous studies on animals have also found damaged memory corroborating the studies on humans (Chaturvedi et al., 2011; Wang et al., 2013;  Qiao et al.,  2014, Shahin et al., 2018; Tang et al., 2021).