Editing Microwave auditory effect

{{Short description|Concept in human perception of sound}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
The '''microwave auditory effect''', also known as the '''microwave hearing effect''' or the '''Frey effect''', consists of the human perception of sounds induced by pulsed or modulated radio frequencies. The perceived sounds are generated directly inside the human head without the need of any receiving electronic device. The effect was first reported by persons working in the vicinity of [[radar]] [[transponder]]s during [[World War II]]. In 1961, the [[United States|American]] [[neuroscientist]] Allan H. Frey studied this phenomenon and was the first to publish information on the nature of the microwave auditory effect.<ref name=Frey>{{cite journal| journal=[[Journal of Applied Physiology]]| volume=17| pages=689–692| year=1962| title=Human auditory system response to modulated electromagnetic energy| author=Allan H. Frey| url=https://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/scalar_tech/the_hum/frey.htm| access-date=November 23, 2019| pmid=13895081| issue=4| doi=10.1152/jappl.1962.17.4.689| s2cid=12359057| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328184923/https://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/scalar_tech/the_hum/frey.htm| archive-date=March 28, 2020| url-status=dead| url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref name="Slow Digital">{{cite web | url=http://slowdigital.com/2017/12/07/allan-frey-a-pioneer-of-radiation-research/ | title=Allan Frey: A Pioneer of Radiation Research | publisher=Slow Digital | date=December 7, 2017 | access-date=November 23, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191122214404/http://slowdigital.com/2017/12/07/allan-frey-a-pioneer-of-radiation-research/ | archive-date=November 22, 2019 | url-status=dead }}</ref> The cause is thought to be thermoelastic expansion of portions of the auditory apparatus,<ref name="prevoccup">{{cite book|editor-last1=Levy|editor-first1=Barry S. |last1=Wagner|first1=Gregory R.|last2=Rest|first2=Kathleen M.|title=Preventing Occupational Disease and Injury |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pM7DNkbVyQgC&q=microwave+injury|year=2005|publisher=[[American Public Health Association]]|isbn=978-0-87553-043-7}}</ref> although competing theories explain the results of [[holographic interferometry]] tests differently.<ref>[https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.209.4461.1144?sid=f514230e-1373-4da5-ad36-3689f428e21b Holographic Assessment of Microwave Hearing], [[Science (journal)|''Science'']] 05 Sep 1980: Vol. 209, Issue 4461, pp. 1144-1145</ref>{{explain|date=April 2024}}

==Research in the U.S.==
Allan H. Frey was the first American to publish on the microwave auditory effect (MAE). Frey's "Human auditory system response to modulated electromagnetic energy" appeared in the ''[[Journal of Applied Physiology]]'' in 1961.<ref name=Frey/> In his experiments, the subjects were discovered to be able to hear appropriately pulsed microwave radiation, from a distance of a few inches to hundreds of feet from the transmitter. In Frey's tests, a repetition rate of 50&nbsp;Hz was used, with pulse width between 10–70 microseconds. The perceived loudness was found to be linked to the peak power density, instead of average power density. At 1.245&nbsp;GHz, the peak power density for perception was below 80&nbsp;mW/cm<sup>2</sup>. According to Frey, the induced sounds were described as "a buzz, clicking, hiss, or knocking, depending on several transmitter parameters, i.e., pulse width and pulse-repetition rate". By changing transmitter parameters, Frey was able to induce the "perception of severe buffeting of the head, without such apparent [[vestibular system|vestibular]] symptoms as dizziness or nausea". Other transmitter parameters induced a [[parathesia|pins and needles]] sensation. Frey experimented with nerve-deaf subjects, and speculated that the human detecting mechanism was in the [[cochlea]], but at the time of the experiment the results were inconclusive due to factors such as [[tinnitus]].<ref name=Frey /><ref name="Kitchen2001" />

Auditory sensations of clicking or buzzing have been reported by some workers at modern-day microwave transmitting sites that emit pulsed microwave radiation. Auditory responses to transmitted frequencies from approximately 200&nbsp;MHz to at least 3&nbsp;GHz have been reported. The cause is thought to be thermoelastic expansion of portions of auditory apparatus, and the generally accepted mechanism is rapid (but minuscule, in the range of 10<sup>−5</sup> °C) heating of brain by each pulse, and the resulting pressure wave traveling through the skull to the [[cochlea]].<ref name="Kitchen2001">{{cite book|author=Ronald Kitchen|title=RF and Microwave Radiation Safety Handbook|url=https://archive.org/details/rfmicrowaveradia0000kitc|url-access=registration|year=2001|publisher=Newnes|isbn=978-0-7506-4355-9}}</ref>

In 1975, an article by neuropsychologist Don Justesen discussing radiation effects on human perception referred to an experiment by [[Joseph C. Sharp]] and Mark Grove at the [[Walter Reed Army Institute of Research]] during which Sharp and Grove reportedly were able to recognize nine out of ten words transmitted by "voice modulated microwaves". Although it's been reported that "power levels required for transmitting sound... [would cause] brain damage due to... thermal effects"<ref name="Krishnan2016">{{cite book|author=Armin Krishnan|title=Military Neuroscience and the Coming Age of Neurowarfare|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8iIlDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA125|date=4 October 2016|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-317-09607-8|pages=125–}}</ref> the pops associated with the microwave audio effect are not sustained over time, and the effect is due to brief, sudden, increases in temperature.<ref name="Elder">{{cite journal |last1=Elder |first1=JA |last2=Chou |first2=CK |title=Auditory response to pulsed radiofrequency energy |journal=Bioelectromagnetics |date=2003 |volume=24 |issue=S6 |pages=S162–S173 |doi=10.1002/bem.10163 |pmid=14628312 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/251757478}}</ref>  So while threshold levels of for the microwave audio effect of 267mW/cm² for 1.3GHz and 5000mW/cm² 2.9GHz, respectively, were reported by Frey in 1961, for the peak amplitude (providing the pops) and would only give an average (sustained) power density of only 0.4mW/cm² and 2mW/cm² respectively<ref name="Elder"></ref> similar to current cellphones.  However, it's been argued that despite waves the microwave auditory effect only constituting a rapid 10<sup>−6</sup> °C rise in temperature, for threshold peaks on each pulse, that, at the least, a strong peak of around 1400 kW/cm² (1.4 billion mW/cm²) would certainly be harmful due to the resulting pressure wave.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lin |first1=James, C. |title=Response to the Letter by Foster, Chou, and Croft [Speaker's Corner] |journal=IEEE Microwave Magazine |date=2022 |volume=23 |issue=4 |page=95 |doi=10.1109/MMM.2022.3147174 |url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9724675 |access-date=21 February 2023}}</ref>

==Electronic warfare==

In 2003–04, WaveBand Corp. had a contract from the [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]] for the design of an MAE system they called [[MEDUSA (weapon)|MEDUSA]] (Mob Excess Deterrent Using Silent Audio) that was intended to temporarily incapacitate personnel through remote application.<ref name=sbir2003>{{cite web | title=Navy search database – summary report: Remote Personnel Incapacitation System | work=SBIR/STTR Search Database (Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer) | publisher=[[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]] | url=http://www.navysbirprogram.com/NavySearch/Summary/summary.aspx?pk=F5B07D68-1B19-4235-B140-950CE2E19D08 | access-date=12 January 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140214192436/http://www.navysbirprogram.com/NavySearch/Summary/summary.aspx?pk=F5B07D68-1B19-4235-B140-950CE2E19D08 | archive-date=14 February 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Reportedly, Sierra Nevada Corp. took over the contract from WaveBand.<ref name=NewSci20080703>{{cite news | url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn14250-microwave-ray-gun-controls-crowds-with-noise.html | title=Microwave ray gun controls crowds with noise | last=Hambling | first=David | date=3 July 2008 | work=[[New Scientist]] | access-date=12 January 2014 }}</ref> Experts, such as Kenneth Foster, a [[University of Pennsylvania]] bioengineering professor who published research on the microwave auditory effect in 1974, have discounted the effectiveness of the proposed device. Foster said that because of human [[biophysics]], the device "would kill you well before you were bothered by the noise". According to former professor at the [[University of Washington]] Bill Guy, "There's a misunderstanding by the public and even some scientists about this auditory effect," and "there couldn't possibly be a hazard from the sound, because the heat would get you first".<ref name="IEEE2008">{{cite web|last1=Heger|first1=Monica|title=Why Microwave Auditory Effect Crowd-Control Gun Won't Work - Experts say you'd fry before you heard anything|url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/why-microwave-auditory-effect-crowdcontrol-gun-wont-work|website=[[IEEE Spectrum]], July 208|publisher=IEEE|access-date=12 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213023658/https://spectrum.ieee.org/biomedical/devices/why-microwave-auditory-effect-crowdcontrol-gun-wont-work|archive-date=13 February 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> 

Microwave effects have been proposed as the cause of otherwise [[Havana syndrome|unexplained illnesses of U.S. diplomats in Cuba and China]] occurring since 2017 and 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/01/science/sonic-attack-cuba-microwave.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage|title=Microwave Weapons Are Prime Suspect in Ills of U.S. Embassy Workers|first=William| last=Broad|newspaper= New York Times|date=September 1, 2018| access-date=2018-09-01|language=en}}</ref><ref name="WilliamsHerb">Katie Bo Williams & Jeremy Herb, [https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/29/politics/us-investigating-mysterious-directed-energy-attack-white-house/index.html US investigating possible mysterious directed energy attack near White House] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429175852/https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/29/politics/us-investigating-mysterious-directed-energy-attack-white-house/index.html |date=April 29, 2021}}, CNN (April 29, 2021).</ref><ref name=NatAcademies>''[https://www.nap.edu/catalog/25889/an-assessment-of-illness-in-us-government-employees-and-their-families-at-overseas-embassies Consensus Study Report: An Assessment of Illness in U.S. Government Employees and Their Families at Overseas Embassies] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209002236/https://www.nap.edu/catalog/25889/an-assessment-of-illness-in-us-government-employees-and-their-families-at-overseas-embassies |date=December 9, 2020}}'', Standing Committee to Advise the Department of State on Unexplained Health Effects on U.S. Government Employees and Their Families at Overseas Embassies, of the [[National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine]] (2020).</ref> However, this explanation has been debated. Bioengineer [[Kenneth R. Foster]] noted of the health effects observed in the diplomats, "it's crazy, but it's sure as heck not microwaves."<ref name="Kaplan2018">{{cite news |last1=Kaplan |first1=Sarah|last2=Achenbach |first2=Joel |title=Scientists and doctors zap theory that microwave weapon injured Cuba diplomats |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/scientists-and-doctors-zap-theory-that-microwave-weapon-injured-cuba-diplomats/2018/09/06/aa51dcd0-b142-11e8-9a6a-565d92a3585d_story.html |access-date=9 December 2018 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=September 6, 2018}}</ref> As of October 2021, a microwave cause remains one of the major hypotheses.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Havana Syndrome: Over 200 Cases Documented Yet Cause Remains A Mystery : Consider This from NPR|language=en|work=NPR.org|url=https://www.npr.org/2021/10/19/1047294190/havana-syndrome-over-200-cases-documented-yet-cause-remains-a-mystery|access-date=2021-11-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-06-02|title=Microwave weapons that could cause Havana Syndrome exist, experts say|url=http://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/jun/02/microwave-weapons-havana-syndrome-experts|access-date=2021-11-05|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref>

==Conspiracy theories==
Numerous individuals suffering from [[auditory hallucination]]s, [[delusional disorder]]s,<ref name=kmir20150212>{{citation |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150829083519/http://www.scrippsmedia.com/kmir6/news/179055911.html |url=http://www.scrippsmedia.com/kmir6/news/179055911.html |title=Electronic Harassment: Voices in My Mind |last=Monroe|first=Angela |date=13 November 2012 |archive-date=2015-08-29|access-date=2016-03-10|url-status=dead}}</ref> or other [[mental illnesses]] have claimed that government agents use forms of [[Brainwashing|mind control]] technologies based on microwave signals to transmit sounds and thoughts into their heads as a form of [[electronic harassment]], referring to the alleged technology as "voice to skull" or "V2K".<ref name=WaPo20070114>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/10/AR2007011001399.html |title=Mind Games |last=Weinberger|first=Sharon |date=January 14, 2007 | newspaper=[[Washington Post]] |access-date=12 January 2014}}</ref>

There are extensive online support networks and numerous websites<ref name=kmir20150212 /> operated by people fearing mind control. Mental health professionals maintain that many of these websites exhibit evidence of delusional disorders, although they are divided over whether such sites reinforce mental troubles, or act as a form of group social support.<ref name=kmirarchive>{{citation |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150829083519/http://www.scrippsmedia.com/kmir6/news/179055911.html |url=http://www.scrippsmedia.com/kmir6/news/179055911.html |title=Electronic Harassment: Voices in My Mind |last=Monroe|first=Angela |publisher=KMIR News|date=13 November 2012 |archive-date=2015-08-29 |access-date=2016-03-10|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=nyt20081112>{{cite news | title=Sharing Their Demons on the Web | last = Kershaw | first=Sarah | newspaper=[[New York Times]] | date = November 12, 2008 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/13/fashion/13psych.html?pagewanted=all}}</ref>

Psychologists have identified many examples of people reporting 'mind control experiences' (MCEs) on self-published web pages that are "highly likely to be influenced by delusional beliefs". Common themes include "Bad Guys" using "[[Electronic harassment|psychotronics]]" and "microwaves", frequent mention of the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]'s [[MKULTRA]] project, and frequent citing of Frey's 1962 paper entitled "Human auditory system response to modulated electromagnetic energy".<ref name="Psychopathology">{{cite journal|last1=Bell|first1=Vaughan|last2=Maiden|first2=Carla|last3=Muñoz-Solomando|first3=Antonio|last4=Reddy|first4=Venu|title='Mind control' experiences on the internet: implications for the psychiatric diagnosis of delusions.|journal=Psychopathology|year=2006|volume=39|issue=2|pages=87–91|publisher=Psychopathology, 39(2), 87-91|doi=10.1159/000090598|pmid=16391510|citeseerx=10.1.1.99.9838|s2cid=6362668}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Frey |first1=Allan H. |title=Human auditory system response to modulated electromagnetic energy |journal=Journal of Applied Physiology |date=July 1962 |volume=17 |issue=4 |pages=689–692 |doi=10.1152/jappl.1962.17.4.689|pmid=13895081 |s2cid=12359057 }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Cosmic ray visual phenomena]]
* [[Electroreception]]
* [[Havana syndrome]]
* [[Photoacoustic effect]]
* [[Sound from ultrasound]]
* [[Specific absorption rate]] – government standards for measurement of human radio frequency exposures

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References and further reading==
<!-- note: these are in chronological order -->
* R.C. Jones, S.S. Stevens, and M.H. Lurie. ''J. Acoustic. Soc. Am.'' 12: 281, 1940.
* H. Burr and A. Mauro. ''Yale J Biol. and Med.'' 21:455, 1949.
* H. von Gierke. ''Noise Control'' 2: 37, 1956.
* J. Zwislocki. ''J. Noise Control'' 4: 42, 1958.
* R. Morrow and J. Seipel. ''J. Wash. Acad. SCI.'' 50: 1, 1960.
* A.H. Frey. ''Aero Space Med.'' 32: 1140, 1961.
* P.C. Neider and W.D. Neff. ''Science'' 133: 1010,1961.
* R. Niest, L. Pinneo, R. Baus, J. Fleming, and R. McAfee. Annual Report. USA Rome Air Development Command, TR-61-65, 1961.
* A.H. Frey. "[http://jap.physiology.org/content/17/4/689.abstract?sid=7c073ad2-6324-4b47-94e1-124dc0a5f154 Human auditory system response to modulated electromagnetic energy.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161015190239/http://jap.physiology.org/content/17/4/689.abstract?sid=7c073ad2-6324-4b47-94e1-124dc0a5f154 |date=2016-10-15 }}" ''J Applied Physiol '' 17 (4): 689–92, 1962.
* A.H. Frey. "Behavioral Biophysics", ''Psychol Bull'' 63(5): 322–37, 1965.
* F.A. Giori and A.R. Winterberger. "Remote Physiological Monitoring Using a Microwave Interferometer", ''Biomed Sci Instr'' 3: 291–307, 1967.
* A.H. Frey and R. Messenger. "Human Perception of Illumination with Pulsed Ultrahigh-Frequency Electromagnetic Energy", ''Science'' 181: 356–8, 1973.
* R. Rodwell. "Army tests new riot weapon", ''New Scientist'' September 20, p.&nbsp;684, 1973.
* A.W. Guy, C.K. Chou, J.C. Lin, and D. Christensen. "Microwave induced acoustic effects in mammalian auditory systems and physical materials", ''Annals of New York Academy of Sciences'', 247:194–218, 1975.
* D.R. Justesen. "Microwaves and Behavior", ''Am Psychologist'', 392 (Mar): 391–401, 1975.
* S.M. Michaelson. "Sensation and Perception of Microwave Energy", In: S.M. Michaelson, M.W. Miller, R. Magin, and E.L. Carstensen (eds.), ''Fundamental and Applied Aspects of Nonionizing Radiation''. Plenum Press, New York,  pp.&nbsp;213–24, 1975.
* E.S. Eichert and A.H. Frey. "Human Auditory System Response to Lower Power Density Pulse Modulated Electromagnetic Energy: A Search for Mechanisms", ''J Microwave Power'' 11(2): 141, 1976.
* W. Bise. "Low power radio-frequency and microwave effects on human electroencephalogram and behavior", ''Physiol Chem Phys'' 10(5): 387–98, 1978.
* J.C. Lin. ''Microwave Auditory Effects and Applications'', Thomas, Springfield Ill, p.&nbsp;176, 1978.
* P.L. Stocklin and B.F. Stocklin. "Possible Microwave Mechanisms of the Mammalian Nervous System", ''T-I-T J Life Sci'' 9: 29–51, 1979.
* H. Frolich. "The Biological Effects of Microwaves and Related Questions", ''Adv Electronics Electron Physics'' 53: 85–152, 1980.
* H. Lai. "Neurological Effects of Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Radiation" In: J.C. Lin (ed.), ''Advances in Electromagnetic Fields in Living Systems'' vol 1, Plenum, NY & London, pp.&nbsp;27–80, 1994.
* R.C. Beason and P. Semm. "Responses of neurons to an amplitude modulated microwave stimulus", ''Neurosci Lett'' 333: 175–78, 2002.
* J.A. Elder and C.K. Chou. "Auditory Responses to Pulsed Radiofrequency Energy", ''Bioelectromagnetics Suppl'' 8: S162–73, 2003.

==External links==
* Seaman, Ronald L., [https://web.archive.org/web/20060304202250/http://www.telecomlab.gr/2002/oct/rhodes/pap3rs/N%20133%20(p942%20-%20p946).pdf "Transmission of microwave-induced intracranial sound to the inner ear is most likely through cranial aqueducts,"] Mckesson Bioservices Corporation, Wrair United States Army Medical Research Detachment. ([[Portable Document Format|PDF]])
* Lin, J.C., 1980, "The microwave auditory phenomenon," Proceedings of the IEEE, 68:67–73. Navy-NSF-supported research.
* Lin, JC., "''[https://web.archive.org/web/20031021150533/http://www.electric-words.com/cell/abstracts/li67645.html Microwave auditory effect- a comparison of some possible transduction mechanisms]''". J Microwave Power. 1976 Mar;11(1):77–81. 1976.
* Guy, A.W., C.K. Chou, J.C. Lin and D. Christensen, 1975, Microwave induced acoustic effects in mammalian auditory systems and physical materials, Annals of New York Academy of Sciences, 247:194–218
* Fist, Stewart, "''[https://web.archive.org/web/20120728070739/http://www.abc.net.au/http/sfist/radstds.htm Australian exposure standards]''". ''Crossroads'', The Australian, March 1999.
* Microwave auditory effects and applications, James C. Lin; Publisher: Thomas; {{ISBN|0-398-03704-3}}
* United States Department of Defense, Air Force Research Laboratory comprehensive review on  [https://web.archive.org/web/20010211200244/http://www.brooks.af.mil/AFRL/HED/hedr/reports/human_exposure/humtb31.html RFR-auditory effect in humans]
* "[http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/106565261/PDFSTART Auditory Responses to Pulsed Radiofrequency Energy]{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}" Bioelectromagnetics Suppl 8: S162-73, 2003.
* {{cite journal|title=Human auditory system response to modulated electromagnetic energy|date=July 1962|journal=[[Journal of Applied Physiology]]|volume=17|issue=4|pages=689–692|doi=10.1152/jappl.1962.17.4.689|pmid=13895081|last1=Frey|first1=Allan H.|s2cid=12359057 }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Microwave Auditory Effect}}
[[Category:Espionage]]
[[Category:Human physiology]]
[[Category:Non-lethal weapons]]
[[Category:Cognitive neuroscience]]
[[Category:Hearing]]
[[Category:Mind control]]
[[Category:Radio spectrum]]
[[Category:Hallucinations]]