Effects of WiFi Exposure on Sleep

Effects of Wifi exposure on sleep and sleep-related Memory consolidation are investigated in a double-blind, sham-controlled fully counterbalanced study design.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Sleep
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: radio frequency electromagnetic field

Detailed Description

Introduction: Since several years Wireless Local Networks (WLAN, WiFi) are widely spread and operated in households. Many people feel that the presence of radiofrequency technologies impairs their health. Sleep problems are among the most often complained complaints. The present study aims to contribute to answer the question, whether biological effects of a WiFi exposure can be assessed by objective measures. The results of this study will expand the database on possible acute effects of WiFi exposure and thus qualitatively contribute to the discussion whether sleep is affected by exposure from radiofrequency electromagnetic fields.

Methods: A double-blind, sham-controlled experiment in the sleep laboratory with exposure conditions delivered in a balanced randomized cross-over design. Subjective sleep quality of volunteers is assessed by questionnaires. Macro- and microstructure of sleep are measured by polysomnography. Furthermore, a possible impact on sleep related memory consolidation is tested. To do so declarative, procedural and emotional memory tasks are used. Exposure is delivered by a specially developed system, which simulates field strengths and signals occurring in a subject sleeping in the close proximity of a WiFi-access point. This exposure system is necessary to allow for a double-blind implementation and monitoring as well as for the realization of defined exposure parameters.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 30
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Germany
  • Berlin, Germany, 12203
    • Charité - University Medicine Berlin

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 20 years to 30 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Only right-handed
• non-smokers
• Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score < 5
• no extreme morning/evening preference [Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) score ≥ 31 or ≤ 69
• no indication of depression or somatic symptoms as assessed by a medical examination and validated questionnaires [Patient Health Questionnaires (PHQ-9 and PHQ-15) scores ≤ 5 and ≤ 10, respectively

Exclusion Criteria:

• history of a psychiatric disorder,
• history of a neurological and/or sleep disorder
• excessive daytime sleepiness [Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) score > 9;
• non-regular sleep-wake schedule as assessed by a sleep diary
• a regular intake of medication that affects the central nervous system, excessive caffeine and/or alcohol consumption, regular and occasional drug use,
• metal implants
• periodic leg movement arousal index > 10/h in the Adaptation night
• apnoea-hypopnoea-index > 5/h in the Adaptation night.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: WiFi - Sham; first Intervention WiFi, second intervention sham	Other: radio frequency electromagnetic field; Exposure system delivers emissions comparable to those from WiFi access point close to the bed or sham (nor exposure)
Experimental: Sham - WiFi; first intervention sham, second intervention WiFi	Other: radio frequency electromagnetic field; Exposure system delivers emissions comparable to those from WiFi access point close to the bed or sham (nor exposure)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
sleep Efficiency index (total sleep time in % of time in bed)	Summary variable describing objective sleep quality	8 hours

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
declarative memory	Number of remembered word pairs in the Word Pair Association Test	8 hours
sleep EEG power	power spectra of the sleep EEG	8 hours

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Charite University, Berlin, Germany

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 1, 2019
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 14, 2020
• Study Completion (Actual): May 31, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 23, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 29, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): January 30, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 20, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 19, 2024
• Last Verified: February 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: radio frequency electromagnetic fields, volunteers
• Other Study ID Numbers: EA4/075/19

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No