Impact of low intensity millimetre waves on cell functions

Investigations on the biological impact of low levels of millimetre-wave energy date back to the first experiments on the generation and detection of these high-frequency signals by Sir Jagadis Chunder Bose at the end of the 19th century. Slightly more than a hundred years later, millimetre-wave transmission has become a ubiquitous commercial reality. Despite the widespread use of millimetre-wave transmitters for communications, radar and even non-lethal weapons systems, only a handful of researchers have funded programmes focusing on millimetre-wave interactions with biological systems. As such, there is a growing need for a better understanding of the mechanisms of these interactions and their possible adverse and therapeutic implications. Independent of the health impact of long-term exposure to high doses of millimetre-wave energy on whole organisms, there exists the potential for subtle effects on specific tissues or organs which can best be quantified in studies which examine real-time changes in cellular function as energy is applied. In this Letter, a series of experiments are presented which show changes in cell membrane potential and the action potential firing rate of cortical neurons under short (1 min) exposures to continuous-wave 60 GHz radiation at W/cm² power levels, more than 1000 times below the US government maximum permissible exposure. The findings have implications for non-contact stimulation and control of neurologic function, and might prove useful in a variety of health applications from suppression of peripheral neuropathic pain to the treatment of central neurological disorders.