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It is high time that the negative effects of high-frequency EMF on the brain development of children and adolescents are taken seriously!” Interview with neurobiologist Dr. Keren Grafen
In her lecture in Neckartenzlingen, neurobiologist Prof. G. Teuchert-Noodt explained that brain metabolism is largely controlled by electromagnetic frequencies between 4 Hz and 30 Hz and that homeostasis in the brain is based on a sensitive interaction of these frequencies. Her institute has research results on this. It is therefore logical that external radiation, such as that generated by mobile phone radiation, has an effect on it. Dr. Keren Grafen worked at Prof. G. Teuchert-Noodt’s institute and is very familiar with the neurobiological research carried out there. Peter Hensinger interviewed her about the current state of research into the effects of mobile phone radiation (EMF) on brain metabolism.
Neurobiology has shown how the overstimulation caused by digital media affects brain metabolism, inhibits the development of the prefrontal cortex and can also lead to addiction. This is what Prof. Gertraud Teuchert-Noodt explains in her video lecture. The study by Kim et al. (2024) “High frequency exposure induces synaptic dysfunction in cortical neurons, causing learning and memory changes in early postnatal mice” now also shows pathological effects of high frequency radiation on brain development in the prefrontal cortex at the molecular level. Mobile phone radiation inhibits the development of synaptic structure and its density as well as neurite growth with negative consequences for behavior, spatial learning and memory.
Negative effects of radiation from cell phones on memory have not only been demonstrated in animal experiments. A study entitled “A prospective cohort study on the memory performance of adolescents and the individual brain dose of microwave fields from radio communication” with 700 adolescents in Switzerland found that high-frequency electromagnetic fields from cell phones have a detrimental effect on the development of memory performance in figural and verbal memory. It was carried out by the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Förster et al. 2018, Schoeni et al. 2015). The cell phone use of twelve to seventeen year olds was evaluated for a year. As expected, frequent phone users showed increased radiation exposure to the brain. The exciting finding: the more phone calls are made, the worse the performance in the figural memory test. Verbal memory also showed poorer results.
Have Kim et al. provided a neurobiological explanation for the results of Förster et al.? What relevance do these study results have? We asked neurobiologist Dr. Keren Grafen about this.
Hippocampus – Center for Effective Learning
DIAGNOSE:FUNK: Dr. Grafen, we would like to ask you to assess the results of the two studies by Kim and Förster, both of which examined the effects of cell phone radiation on the brain. First, for our readers who are not biologists, the question: What is the function of the hippocampus? What role do synapses and neurites play in the brain?
KEREN GRAFEN: With pleasure! The hippocampus is a fascinating structure of the brain that plays a crucial role in short-term memory, the transfer of information to long-term memory, as well as emotions, motivation and spatial orientation. The name “hippocampus” is derived from its shape, which is reminiscent of a seahorse.
A remarkable feature of the hippocampus is its ability to generate new nerve cells throughout life. This takes place in a group of embryonic cells, the blastema, located in the hippocampus, which enables continuous neurogenesis. This process contributes significantly to neuronal plasticity by maintaining the adaptability of the neuronal network and preventing the formation of rigid structures. Since the hippocampus must continuously store new information, the system is forced to remain receptive to environmental stimuli. This phenomenon, known as hippocampal neurogenesis, is a central area of research that I have been intensively involved with for many years. It is important to know that the formation of new nerve cells in the hippocampus continues into adulthood, as an essential prerequisite for learning processes, emotional regulation and cognitive flexibility.
Another central function of the hippocampus is its involvement in the creation of cognitive maps. The discovery of place cells in the hippocampus and grid cells in the adjacent entorhinal cortex was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2014. These specialized nerve cells are essential for encoding spatial information and enable the calculation of internal maps for navigation.
The neuroanatomical basis of all these processes is formed by neurites, i.e. axons and dendrites, which ensure comprehensive networking between the nerve cells. Synapses play a crucial role in signal transmission and enable the exchange of information within neuronal networks.
Damage to the hippocampus has far-reaching consequences for cognitive and spatial processes. Experimental studies on rodents show that effective learning is no longer possible without this structure – a finding that has also been confirmed in humans. The case of patient H.M., whose hippocampus was removed on both sides in the 1950s, clearly illustrates the central importance of this region: after the procedure, he was neither able to form new memories nor to orient himself spatially.
RF-EMF causes branches of the neuronal trees to atrophy
DIAGNOSE:FUNK: A result of the study by Kim et al.: RF-EMF exposure led to a reduction in neurite length and the number of branches. What consequences can this have?
KEREN GRAFEN: A neural network can be compared to a forest: Each nerve cell is like a tree whose branches spread out widely and are in contact with other trees. However, when individual branches or even entire trees die, gaps appear in the dense forest – the once lively connection between the trees is interrupted. This is precisely the phenomenon that the study by Kim et al. was able to impressively demonstrate: exposure to high-frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) has a negative effect on the axons and dendrites of the nerve cells in the hippocampus. The branches of the neural trees atrophy, their number decreases, and the network loses stability.
The possible effects on spatial orientation are even more profound: EMF exposure can impair both the formation and function of cognitive maps. This would not only have consequences for our memory, but also for more complex thought processes – such as the ability to distinguish between past and future, or social interaction with other people. Just as a damaged forest not only changes its ecosystem but also affects the lives of countless animals, disrupted neural networks could have far-reaching consequences for our thinking and behavior.
Hebbian learning synapse: “Neurons that fire together, wire together.”
DIAGNOSE:FUNK: The expression of AMPA and NMDA glutamate receptors (Hebbian learning synapse) was significantly reduced in the hippocampal neurons examined. What does this mean? Can the consequences for neuroplasticity be deduced from this? What role does neuroplasticity play?
KEREN GRAFEN: To do this, we should first explain the Hebbian learning synapse, which is a fundamental principle of neuronal plasticity and was formulated by the Canadian researcher Donald Hebb in 1949: “Neurons that fire together, wire together.” This means that the synaptic connection between two nerve cells is strengthened when they are repeatedly active at the same time. More precisely: When a presynaptic nerve cell (sender) is active at the same time as a postsynaptic nerve cell (receiver), the synaptic connection is strengthened. This phenomenon is known as long-term potentiation (LTP). The NMDA receptor plays a central role here.
The process works as follows: An incoming signal first activates the AMPA receptor, which immediately transmits the excitation. Only when the nerve cell remains active over a longer period of time – as is the case with learning processes through repeated stimulation – is the NMDA receptor activated. A special feature of the NMDA receptor is that it is blocked by a magnesium ion when it is at rest. This blockage is only lifted when the input to the receiving cell is large enough. This leads to structural changes in the synapse via various chemical processes: it grows, becomes more stable and increases in size. These changes facilitate signal transmission at this synapse, thereby increasing the efficiency of learning. This is what Hebb meant in 1949 when he postulated that the synaptic connection between two nerve cells is strengthened when they are repeatedly active at the same time.
The significantly reduced expression of AMPA and NMDA glutamate receptors in hippocampal neurons – as Kim was able to show in the above-mentioned study – means that the learning processes are impaired at a physiological level. This in turn means that the brain’s ability to adapt structurally and functionally to experiences and environmental factors – a process known as neuroplasticity – is no longer possible. The consequences are far-reaching: the anatomical correlate for any learning is impaired.
RF-EMF influences the homeostasis of brain timing
DIAGNOSE:FUNK: At the Teuchert-Noodt Institute, where you worked, an electrophysiological connection was discovered in the study by Hoffmann et al. in 2001: brain metabolism is controlled by EMF, in frequencies from 4 Hz to 30 Hz. Could you explain this mechanism to us, and could the damage that Kim et al. discovered, including the reduced BDNF expression, also be related to this?
KEREN GRAFEN: The electrophysiological connection discovered by Hoffmann et al. (2001) at the Teuchert-Noodt Institute shows that electromagnetic fields (EMF) in the frequency range of 4 Hz to 30 Hz affect hippocampal neurogenesis. It is particularly striking that EMF exposure in the frequency range of 1, 29 and 50 Hz significantly reduces neurogenesis, while other frequencies such as 8 and 12 Hz have no effect. The study interprets that only certain frequencies activate the release of neurotransmitters and hormones, which in turn control the changes in the hippocampus.
This finding opens the way to an interesting hypothesis: there is a common mechanism that is found in both the study by Hoffmann et al. and the study by Kim et al. can be found: The EMF-controlled regulation of neurotransmitters and hormones could be the trigger for reduced BDNF expression and thus a reduced synaptic density – an extremely interesting assumption that will certainly also occupy future research. BDNF, or Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, is a protein that plays a central role in the formation of new synapses in the brain. A lack of BDNF is associated with cognitive deficits and neurodegenerative diseases.
The brain learns especially through movement, through understanding in three dimensions
DIAGNOSE:FUNK: What role does all this play in learning and healthy brain development? Based on your neurobiological knowledge, what do you think when you see children and young people constantly on the phone?
KEREN GRAFEN: That is a very important question: From a neurobiological point of view, healthy brain development plays a central role in learning, because the brains of children and young people are particularly plastic and malleable. This means that on the one hand it is particularly open, but on the other hand it is also particularly susceptible to damaging influences. Using the metaphor of the forest, every new experience, every learning and every interaction is integrated into this neural network as new “branches”. Damaging or inadequate stimuli cause this forest to wither. Not only damaging influences, as described above through the damaging effects of EMF radiation, play a role, but also the way in which learning takes place. The brain learns in particular through movement, through GRAPING, in three dimensions. This means that we do not just absorb information passively, but integrate it through active, physical interaction with the environment and anchor it in our brain.
The increasing dependence on digital devices and the associated 24/7 EMF exposure could therefore negatively affect neuronal growth and cognitive abilities, especially in the highly vulnerable brains of our children and adolescents. In neurobiology, we speak of such cases as the so-called “emergency maturation”, which occurs in the Kasper-Hauser effect. From a neurobiological point of view, it is therefore high time to take the experimental studies seriously, reduce EMF exposure and use alternative means that support learning and brain development by promoting movement and interaction with the real world.
DIAGNOSE:FUNK: All of this means that brain development is massively damaged by cell phone radiation. The study was carried out on mice. Can we draw conclusions from this about a threat to our children’s brain development?
KEREN GRAFEN: Yes, I would. The studies cited above were carried out on mice, but the basic neurobiological mechanisms that primarily affect the important relay station hippocampus – including neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity and spatial coordination – are completely comparable in mammals, including humans. If these results are ignored by industry-contaminated and interest-driven politics, they should at least serve as a warning signal for parents, teachers and educators. It is high time that the negative effects of high-frequency EMF on the brain development of children and young people are finally taken seriously. Precautionary measures such as reducing mobile phone use among children, using wired alternatives and minimizing radiation exposure in the sleeping area are the least that can be done to avoid potential long-term damage.
In the video, Prof. Dr. Michael Kundi explains the significance of the results of the Swiss study by Foerster et al. on the damage to figural thinking.
Click the video and it starts at 26:22. English subtitles are available.
Swiss study: Smartphone-use damages figural memory
DIAGNOSE:FUNK: Kim et al. have researched biological processes in mice. Could this retrospectively explain the results of the study by Förster et al. (2018) from Switzerland? The study examined the influence of RF-EMF on memory performance in around 670 adolescents. The main results: An increase in cumulative RF-EMF exposure was associated with a deterioration in figural memory performance. The effect was particularly pronounced in participants who preferred to use their cell phone on the right side of their head. The effect was significant when RF-EMF doses were estimated based on operator data.
KEREN GRAFEN: Yes, figural memory refers to the ability to store and remember visual impressions such as images, shapes, patterns or spatial structures. It is an essential part of visual memory and enables one to retain the appearance of objects, faces, places and situations without having to rely on verbal descriptions. It plays a key role in spatial orientation and the reconstruction of perceptions. And this is exactly where the hippocampus comes into play – THE central control point for spatial calculation and orientation, do you remember the place cells? So a clear connection can be made.
The study by Kim et al. therefore fits with the findings of Förster et al. (2018), who discovered a connection between cumulative RF-EMF exposure and a deterioration in figural memory performance in adolescents. The changes in the hippocampus disrupt the complex three-dimensional neuronal network in the long term.
At this point, however, I would like to make a critical comment: the hypothesis that certain brain regions – such as the right hippocampus – are responsible for specific functions such as figural memory is a simplistic view. I personally find this “left-right hypothesis” problematic, as we should increasingly move from a strictly anatomical view to a systemic and networked way of thinking about the brain. The brain does not function in isolation in individual areas, but in dynamic, interactive networks. This perspective shows us that the effects of EMF are much more complex and go far beyond the isolated consideration of brain regions.
Lecture by Prof. Leif. Salford on his studies on the effects of mobile phone radiation on the brain
Salford – Studies confirm: RF-EMF opens the blood-brain barrier
DIAGNOSE:FUNK: In 2022, you yourself published the article “Albumin as a key marker. How the permeability of the BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER changes after exposure to mobile phone radiation” with Thieme, in which you write: “Professor Salford’s findings on albumin extravasation by electromagnetic fields may provide an indication of pathogenic mechanisms for a broad spectrum of neurological diseases associated with BBB dysfunction.” When viewed in interaction with the findings of Kim et al., what role could this mechanism play in brain development, especially when young children are already using a smartphone?
KEREN GRAFEN: Yes, the extremely insightful findings of Prof. Leif Salford, which I included in my article “Albumin als Schlüsselmarker” and combined with current data, illustrate the immensely complex and potentially dangerous effects of EMF on the brain – and in a completely new way: via the blood-brain barrier. It is now well documented that the extravasation (leakage) of albumin is associated with hyperpermeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB).
When these results are combined with the results of the previously mentioned studies, the seriousness of the potential effects of EMF on child brain development becomes even clearer. The hyperpermeability of the blood-brain barrier caused by EMF opens the brain to harmful substances that place additional stress on the brain, especially on an immunological level (note d:f: the new study by Kizilçay et al. (2025) again confirms this effect of EMF). This causes additional and massive disruption to the neural network, which is still developing and particularly vulnerable.
And now please imagine what the future of our children will become when ever younger children come into contact with smartphones and other wireless devices! The mechanism of BBB dysfunction in combination with the findings of Kim et al. shows that chronic EMF exposure leads to significant impairments in brain functions. I see this every day in my practice, how desperate parents watch helplessly as their children act like remote-controlled beings. It is high time that at least parents, teachers and educators become aware of the ever-increasing danger of EMF exposure to the brains of our children and young people. There are alternatives, even in an increasingly digital world. Switching to wired devices, drastically reducing cell phone use, especially among young children, and above all the urgently needed education about the risks of EMF are essential to protect healthy brain development. We can no longer stand by and watch as our children’s health is put at risk!
It is high time to deal with the dramatic consequences
DIAGNOSE:FUNK: In his book (German) “Generation Angst“, Jonathan Haidt puts forward the theory that since 2012, the mental health of young people has fallen off a cliff due to smartphone use. The PISA studies show that arithmetic, writing, reading and speaking skills are on the decline and mental illnesses are increasing among children and young people. Doesn’t the study by Kim et al. provide a plausible explanation for this? What consequences do you see for daycare centers, schools and parents from these findings?
KEREN GRAFEN: Yes, the study by Kim et al. not only provides a plausible biological explanation for Jonathan Haidt’s theses in “Generation Angst”, but also lets us see the full extent of the impact of EMF on the mental health of young people. Haidt notes that the increasing use of smartphones since 2012 has led to a dramatic decline in the mental health of young people, reflected in rising mental illnesses and declining school performance. The numerous neurobiological changes as I described above could be the cause of the increasing difficulties of young people in basic cognitive areas such as arithmetic, reading, writing and speaking.
At a neuroanatomical level, the hippocampus in conjunction with the amygdala is crucial for the perception of fear. Fear can be meaningfully put into context by higher-level structures such as the prefrontal cortex, allowing us to evaluate whether it is a real or fictitious fear. As explained by Professor Dr. Teuchert-Noodt in Neckartenzlingen, the meso-limbo-cortical dopaminergic stress pathway plays a crucial role here. This stress pathway is responsible for how we deal with stress and anxiety, and its impairment dramatically reduces the emotional resilience of young people.
It is high time that we deal with the dramatic consequences of these findings! Schools, daycare centers and parents must act now to reduce the unchecked EMF exposure of children and young people. Urgent measures are needed to protect the well-being of our children: We must drastically reduce screen time, promote analogue learning methods and social interactions, educate people and make the use of digital devices healthier. If we do not act, we risk permanently damaging the mental health and cognitive development of the next generation.
DIAGNOSIS:FUNK: Dr. Grafen, thank you very much for explaining these highly explosive connections. These findings from your research must become known. We will distribute this interview to as many parents, educators and doctors as possible.
The questions were asked by Peter Hensinger, board member of diagnose:funk
Literature
Hoffmann K, Bagorda F, Stevenson AF, Teuchert-Noodt G (2001): Electromagnetic exposure effects the hippocampal dentate cell proliferation in gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus), Indian J Exp Biol 39(12): 1220-1226.
Foerster M, Thielens A, Joseph W, Eeftens M and Röösli M (2018): A Prospective Cohort Study of Adolescents’ Memory Performance and Individual Brain Dose of Microwave Radiation from Wireless Communication. Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol. 126, No. 7, ResearchOpen Access, https://www.emf-portal.org/de/article/35641
Kim JH, Seok JY, Kim YH, Kim HJ, Lee JK, Kim HR (2024): Exposure to Radiofrequency Induces Synaptic Dysfunction in Cortical Neurons Causing Learning and Memory Alteration in Early Postnatal Mice. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(16). Besprechung der Studie auf: https://www.emfdata.org/de/studien/detail&id=860
Lehmann K, Grund T, Bagorda A, Bagorda F, Grafen K, Winter Y, Teuchert-Noodt G (2009): Developmental effects on dopamine projections and hippocampal cell proliferation in the rodent model of postweaning social and physical deprivation can be triggered by brief changes of environmental context. Behav Brain Res 205(1): 26-31.
Neufeld J, Teuchert-Noodt G, Grafen K, Winter Y, Witte AV (2009): Synapse plasticity in motor, sensory, and limbo-prefrontal cortex areas as measured by degrading axon terminals in an environment model of gerbils (meriones unguiculatus). Neural Plast 2009: 1-15.
Teuchert-Noodt G, Hensinger P (2025): No way out of the smartphone epidemic without taking into account the findings of brain research, J Neurol Neurosci, 16 (01) 2025 : 001-01, >>> Download Volltext
Grafen, K (2022): Albumin als Schlüsselmarker – Wie sich die Durchlässigkeit der BLUT-HIRN-SCHRANKE nach Mobilfunkstrahlen-Exposition verändert, Deutsche Heilpraktiker-Zeitschrift 2022; 17(06): 56-59. DOI: 10.1055/a-1870-2580; https://www.emf-portal.org/de/article/58608 , Download: https://www.emfdata.org/de/studien/detail?id=785
Original article: „Es ist höchste Zeit, dass die negativen Auswirkungen von Hochfrequenz-EMF auf die Gehirnentwicklung von Kindern und Jugendlichen ernst genommen werden!“
Interview mit der Neurobiologin Dr. Keren Grafen
Published: March 2, 2025
By: Diagnose:Funk
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