With the widespread adoption of smartphones, concerns about increased exposure to non-ionizing radiofrequency have emerged. This scoping review examines the effects of mobile phone exposure on neural oscillations and cortical excitability, focusing on both motor and non-motor regions of the cerebral cortex. A scoping review identified seventy-eight studies that involved healthy individuals and employed electroencephalography and only two studies that investigated transcranial magnetic stimulation as primary technical tools. The findings suggest that mobile phone exposure may affect brain oscillations and cortical excitability. However, inconsistencies in experimental methods across studies make it difficult to draw definitive conclusions. Additionally, research on fifth-generation technology, particularly mmWave exposure from next-generation mobile networks, remains limited and needs further exploration. These gaps highlight the need for more in-depth studies on how mobile phone exposure impacts brain function.

Background: Research on the impact of 5G mobile phone electromagnetic exposure on corticospinal excitability and intracortical mechanisms is still poorly understood. Objective: This randomized controlled pilot study explored the effects of 5G mobile phone exposure at 3.6 GHz (power density: 0.0030 W/m²) on corticospinal excitability and intracortical mechanisms in healthy adults. Methods: Nineteen healthy participants (mean age: 36.5 years) were exposed to 5G mobile phone exposure for 5 and 20 min, approximating the typical duration of a phone call. Corticospinal excitability, intracortical facilitation, short intracortical inhibition, and long intracortical inhibition using single- and paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation assessed before and immediately after exposure were performed. Results: A two-way repeated-measures ANOVA revealed no significant interactions between exposure condition (5 min, 20 min, sham) and time (pre vs. post) for CSE, ICF, SICI, or LICI (all p > 0.15). Bayesian analyses yielded Bayes factors close to 1, indicating inconclusive evidence for both the null and alternative hypotheses. Conclusion: Short-term exposure to 5G mobile phone electromagnetic fields did not produce detectable changes in corticospinal or intracortical excitability. Bayesian evidence was similarly inconclusive (Bayes factors ≈ 1), suggesting that the data provide limited support for either the presence or absence of a detectable effect. Any potential influence of 5G exposure on neural function is therefore likely to be subtle with the present methods. As a pilot study, these findings should be interpreted cautiously and underscore the need for further research using more sensitive outcome measures, extended exposure durations, and vulnerable populations.

Background The reliability of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)-induced motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) is important when assessing corticospinal excitability (CSE) repeatedly within and across experimental sessions. Establishing measurement consistency for newly trained TMS operators is particularly important before they conduct studies involving repeated CSE assessment. Objectives This study evaluated the intra-rater reliability of TMS-induced MEP measurements obtained by a newly trained TMS operator, examining both within-session and between-session reliability. The study also described the structured training and standardised measurement procedures used before the main intervention. Methods Twelve healthy participants (7 males and 5 females; aged 25–52 years) completed two TMS assessment sessions separated by at least 48 hours. MEPs were recorded from the relaxed right first dorsal interosseous muscle at three measurement time points. During Session 1, we obtained measurements at T1 and T2, separated by a 20-minute interval, to assess within-session reliability. During Session 2, measurements were obtained at T3, and T1 and T3 were compared to assess between-session reliability. We recorded 30 MEPs at each time point. We primarily assessed reliability using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) with 95% confidence intervals, and used Bland–Altman analyses to evaluate agreement. We used a one-way repeated-measures analysis of variance to compare mean MEP amplitudes across T1, T2, and T3. Results Within-session reliability was moderate, with an ICC of 0.707 (95% CI [0.240, 0.906]). Bland–Altman analysis showed a mean difference of 0.038 mV between T2 and T1, with 95% limits of agreement from − 0.771 to 0.847 mV. Between-session reliability was also moderate, with an ICC of 0.570 (95% CI [− 0.004, 0.856]); however, the wide confidence interval indicated greater uncertainty. The mean difference between T3 and T1 was 0.030 mV, with 95% limits of agreement from − 0.998 to 1.057 mV. Mean MEP amplitude did not differ significantly across T1, T2, and T3 (F (1.199, 13.19) = 0.0579, P = 0.856); however, we did not interpret the lack of a statistically significant difference as evidence of equivalence. Conclusions TMS-induced MEP measurements obtained by the newly trained operator demonstrated moderate within-session reliability and moderate between-session reliability, with greater uncertainty across separate sessions. These findings support the feasibility and potential value of structured training and standardised measurement procedures before newly trained TMS operators undertake repeated CSE assessments. However, because the study did not include a pre-training reliability assessment or an experienced-operator comparator, it cannot determine the effect of training itself on measurement reliability.

The rapid global expansion of 5G technology has increased concerns regarding its potential health effects. Postural balance, a complex sensorimotor function reflecting central nervous system integrity, may be susceptible to electromagnetic field exposure. However, evidence on 5G effects on comprehensive balance outcomes remains limited. This randomized controlled pilot study investigated the effects of short-term exposure to 5G mobile phones on static and dynamic postural balance using computerized posturography. Nineteen healthy adults (mean age: 31 ± 7 years) participated in a randomized crossover design involving three conditions: 5-min exposure, 20-min exposure, and sham. Static and dynamic balance were assessed using the NeuroCom Balance Master, including the Unilateral Stance, Rhythmic Weight Shift, and Limits of Stability tests, which were performed immediately before and after each condition. Two-way repeated-measures ANOVA showed no significant interaction between exposure condition and time (pre vs. post) across all outcomes. Bayesian analyses provided support against detectable exposure-related interaction effects, although evidence for some time-related effects was inconclusive or varied across outcomes. These findings suggest that short-term 5G exposure did not produce detectable alterations in postural control under the experimental conditions tested.