title: Electromagnetic hypersensitivity: evidence for a novel neurological syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought direct evidence that acute exposure to environmental-strength electromagnetic fields (EMFs) could induce somatic reactions (EMF hypersensitivity).
  
  
  METHODS
  The subject, a female physician self-diagnosed with EMF hypersensitivity, was exposed to an average (over the head) 60-Hz electric field of 300 V/m (comparable with typical environmental-strength EMFs) during controlled provocation and behavioral studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In a double-blinded EMF provocation procedure specifically designed to minimize unintentional sensory cues, the subject developed temporal pain, headache, muscle twitching, and skipped heartbeats within 100 s after initiation of EMF exposure (p < .05). The symptoms were caused primarily by field transitions (off-on, on-off) rather than the presence of the field, as assessed by comparing the frequency and severity of the effects of pulsed and continuous fields in relation to sham exposure. The subject had no conscious perception of the field as judged by her inability to report its presence more often than in the sham control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The subject demonstrated statistically reliable somatic reactions in response to exposure to subliminal EMFs under conditions that reasonably excluded a causative role for psychological processes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EMF hypersensitivity can occur as a bona fide environmentally inducible neurological syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, LSU Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, Louisiana 71130-3932, USA.
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: McCarty
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carrubba
authors.forename: Andrew L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Chesson
authors.forename: Clifton
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Frilot
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Toledo
authors.forename: Andrew A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Marino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D040421:Cell Phone; D003201:Computers; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017286:Polysomnography / Q000379:methods; D013577:Syndrome