Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 24, 2026

Quantifying Infra-slow Dynamics of Spectral Power and Heart Rate in Sleeping Mice
Published on: August 2, 2017
Disturbed sleep in individuals with idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields
Soafara Andrianome1,2, Laurent Hugueville3, René de Seze1,2
1Department of Experimental Toxicology, Institut National de l'Environnement Industriel et des Risques INERIS, Verneuil-en-Halatte, France.
Abstract:
Individuals who suffer from idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields (IEI-EMF) complain of a variety of adverse health effects. Troubled sleep remains a recurrent and common symptom in IEI-EMF individuals. Melatonin, a circadian hormone, plays a major role in the sleep process. In this study, we compared levels of melatonin between a sensitive group (IEI-EMF, n = 30) and a non-sensitive control group (non IEI-EMF, n = 25) without exposure to electromagnetic sources. Three questionnaires were used to evaluate the subjective quality and sleep quantity: the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Spiegel Sleep Inventory. Melatonin was quantified in saliva and its major metabolite 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (aMT6s) in urine. Melatonin levels were compared by a two-way analysis of variance at various times between the control and IEI-EMF group. Despite significantly different sleep scores between the two groups, with a lower score in the IEI-EMF group (P < 0.001), no statistical difference was found between the two groups for saliva melatonin (P > 0.05) and urine aMT6s (P > 0.05). Bioelectromagnetics. 37:175-182, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Related Concept Videos
Management of Insomnia
Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
Insomnia
Multiple factors contribute...
Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...

