Eléonore Fresnel

Eléonore Fresnel

Invisible Stimulus: How Magnetic Fields Interact with the Human Body

Every day, we are surrounded by invisible forces — magnetic fields from power lines, trains, and medical devices. People aren’t aware of them, but what if these fields affect our bodies more than we realize? In my research, I investigate how extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF) might subtly stimulate the human peripheral nervous system — without any physical contact. Using a custom-designed coil system, I expose participants to controlled ELF-MF conditions and monitor their physiological responses— both through subjective reports as well as objective measurements of brain activity using electroencephalography (EEG). My goal is to address critical gaps in our understanding of ELF-MF effects and assess whether current safety standards are truly protective. In essence, I’m working to decipher the boundaries of an invisible frontier between safe and unsafe — one nerve signal at a time.

Eléonore Fresnel
PhD candidate, Medical Biophysics
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry - Western University

Supervisors

Dr. Nicolas Bouisset
Dr. Frank Prato

Eléonore is a PhD candidate in the Department of Medical Biophysics at Western University, affiliated with the Lawson Research Institute. She holds a Master’s degree in Science, Movement, and Technology from the University of Montpellier in France. Her research explores how extremely-low frequency magnetic fields interact with the human nervous system, with a particular focus on the peripheral nervous system. Using custom-designed magnetic coils and repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation (rPMS), combined with electrophysiological recordings such as EEG, she investigates how targeted magnetic stimulation can modulate the nervous system activity (e.g., nerves, skin receptors). Eléonore brings a multidisciplinary and international perspective to her research at the intersection of neuroscience, engineering, and biophysics. Through this work, she aims to advance both the scientific understanding and practical applications of peripheral neuromodulation.

You can connect with Eléonore via her LinkedIn or via email.

View Eléonore's work as it appears in the Inspiring Minds Digital Collection.