Analysis of the Effects of High-Voltage Transmission Line on Human Stress and Attention Through Electroencephalography (EEG)

Abstract

Knowing the variable-frequency, high-intensity electromagnetic field plays an important role in the humans’ surroundings, numerous studies have been carried out on stress and attention based on EEG data. In this study, a comparison was drawn between the brain waves of individuals living near high-voltage transmission towers and those of people living outside of these zones. The levels of stress and attention were also assessed based on the brain activity of the participants. First, a general questionnaire is completed by the volunteers, and the predisposed samples are included in the research following the screening process. Two 10-member groups (average age of 27 years) of adult males were selected for the research. In one of the groups, the participants are not exposed to high-voltage electric fields. The homes of the members of the second group are located beneath or near high-voltage transmission towers (at a maximum distance of 20 m). Using a 14-channel EEG system, the brain waves of each participant were recorded 5 times over 2 days in the eyes-open resting state while the participants were looking at a white screen. (Ten records of data were obtained per person.) The saliva samples of each participant were also obtained to assess the basal cortisol hormone. The mean EEG stress and attention indices were obtained based on the data on each person, and the mean cortisol level of each group was compared to that of the other group. The investigation and comparison results proved that the mean EEG attention indices of people exposed to high-voltage electric fields were lower than those of the ordinary people. On the other hand, the mean levels of basal EEG stress and salivary cortisol hormone were higher in the people exposed to high-voltage electric fields than the ordinary people. Given the variations of the mean indices of stress and attention in the EEGs and salivary samples of the participants as a result, self-efficacy decreases over time.