A Causal Role for Voltage-gated Cav1.2 Calcium Channels in Mediating 5G FR1 Effects on Sleep-associated Brain Health in Humans

Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) generated by the use of 5G technology influence certain sleep characteristics, especially in individuals carrying a specific genetic variant of a protein in the brain that regulates the activity of nerve cells. This protein is a voltage-gated calcium channel called CaV1.2 and could be involved in the effects of 5G technology on sleep. The calcium channel CaV1.2 can be selectively blocked by the drug nimodipine. To demonstrate that CaV1.2 is indeed involved in the effects of 5G technology on sleep, the researchers are investigating in this study, with healthy subjects carrying the sought-after genetic variant, whether the administration of nimodipine and thus the blockade of the calcium channel before exposure mitigates or eliminates the effects of EMF on sleep health.

This study tests a causal role of voltage-gated CaV1.2 calcium channels in mediating the effects of a 5G electromagnetic field on sleep-related brain health in humans. The study comprises a large-scale genetic screening in order to select the allele-carriers, a sleep screening night, and four experimental nights where participants are exposed to either an active 5G field or sham, combined with either nimodipine (which is a brain-penetrant L-type calcium channel blocker) or placebo. Participants will undergo polysomnographic recordings, high-density electroencephalography (EEG) during wake, peripheral measurements, cognitive and neuropsychiatric assessments.