Hypersensitivity to Electricity: The effect of the current waveform on the perception level

Abstract

peer reviewedHypersensitivity to electricity has been reported many times in the literature. From another point of view, numerous measurements have been performed on perception level. Even if it appears that part of the population has a lower perception level of current, there is no clear link with the so called “hypersensitivity to electricity” which is more related to declared physiological disorders in part of the population (sleeping problem, headache ...). Such declared hypersensitivity is currently not yet related to any biological parameter. Our research team is currently trying to determine a relationship between hypersensitive declared people and the perception level when injecting current in the low frequency range 50-1000 Hz. We have performed current perception tests with individuals under different conditions (different wave shapes, frequencies, influence of external electric field, male and female...) using a particular protocol and our own designed system for current injection. This paper will present our test system design (current injector, wave shape converter, safety aspects) and our first results based on both sine wave (different frequencies) and wide band signal