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With the growing use of the internet and smart devices, concerns about radiation from Wi-Fi routers and mobile phones have also increased. Many families now find themselves debating whether Wi-Fi should remain switched on at night.

“Go to sleep, it’s already midnight. How long will you keep using your phone?”
“I’m just finishing a movie, Mom. We barely get Wi-Fi during the day!”

Such conversations are common in many households. Sarita, a resident of Noida, says these exchanges occur several nights a week between her and her eighth-grade son, Akshar.

Many people believe Wi-Fi stands for “Wireless Fidelity,” similar to how Hi-Fi means “High Fidelity.” However, according to the Wi-Fi Alliance, Wi-Fi does not have a full form.

Wi-Fi is simply a technology that allows devices such as smartphones, laptops, and computers to connect to the internet wirelessly through a router, creating a wireless local area network (WLAN).

Late-night work, online entertainment, and mobile phone usage often result in Wi-Fi routers staying switched on throughout the night. While mobile phone addiction is widely discussed, concerns about prolonged Wi-Fi exposure are now gaining attention.

This raises an important question: Does leaving Wi-Fi on overnight have any harmful effects on health? More specifically, could it negatively affect the brain or the nervous system?

When asked about this, Dr. Divya Jyoti, Consultant in Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery at Yashoda Medicity in the Delhi-NCR region, explained that there is currently no scientific evidence proving that Wi-Fi exposure causes harm to the brain or nervous system.

He noted that while brain activity involves electrical impulses and Wi-Fi operates using electromagnetic fields (EMF), there is no scientific explanation or clinical data to confirm that Wi-Fi interferes with brain function.

“From a purely theoretical perspective, one might assume a connection, but medically and scientifically, this has not been established,” he said. “As a precaution, reducing unnecessary exposure may be reasonable, but there is no proven health risk.”

Brain impulses, also known as nerve impulses or action potentials, are electrochemical signals that enable neurons to communicate with each other. These impulses are essential for thinking, movement, sensation, and overall brain function.