RF-032Original text reviewed
Blinded experiment joins sleep physiology to reduced task improvement
The reported finding
Overnight reduction in motor-task response-time variance was smaller during exposure (28.97%) than sham (49.04%; adjusted condition p=0.03). Sleep time fell 9.23 min (p=0.04); slow-wave activity increased in fourth NREM episode.
Reading it carefully
Small experimental study; response-time variance is a task endpoint, not diagnosed memory disease. Unusual pulse pattern and different SAR averaging periods must be preserved; no automatic inference of human-limit compliance.
Inside the study
Exposure conditions
900 MHz; 7.1-ms pulses at 10 W/kg peak spatial SAR over 10g, arranged in bursts (1 W/kg burst average); all-night average 0.15 W/kg. Repeated 18-min on/off pattern; six-minute average never exceeded 0.34 W/kg.
Design & controls
16 healthy men aged 18-21; randomized double-blind crossover, adaptation before each of two nights; objective sleep EEG and evening/morning tapping task.
Related research & shared cohorts
The protection question raised
Could exposure-related changes in sleep and overnight task improvement matter to daily function? The small experiment and unusual pulse/averaging conditions leave clinical significance and a general protective threshold unresolved.
Source verification
Original author/institution-hosted uncorrected proof reviewed; citation/result direction checked against PubMed publication record
Where to find the result
Proof pp.2-4 Methods, Statistics, Results; Figures 1-3; p.1 funding/conflicts; final pp.805-811
Editorial notices
Scite metadata checked 20 Oct 2026; no editorial notice returned. Primary bibliographic records and targeted notices were checked where retrievable; no retraction or expression of concern located. This is not certification that no notice exists. Source is an uncorrected proof, not an independently counted publication.
Funding
Swiss Research Foundation on Mobile Communication (FSM A2008-08); Swiss National Science Foundation (P00A-114923).
Conflicts of interest
Authors declared no competing interests (proof p.1).
Original publication
Lustenberger C, Murbach M, Dürr R, Schmid MR, Kuster N, Achermann P, Huber R. Stimulation of the brain with radiofrequency electromagnetic field pulses affects sleep-dependent performance improvement. Brain Stimul. 2013;6(5):805-811. doi:10.1016/j.brs.2013.01.017.