A team of scientists in the US claims that the American diplomats who had mysterious symptoms in Cuba were attacked with microwave radiation.
Douglas H. Smith, director of the Center for Brain Injury and Repair at the University of Pennsylvania, told the New York Times that the trauma was probably caused by microwaves that could "lie" to the brain and make a victim think he was hearing ordinary sounds. This effect is called the "Frey Effect".
According to the Times, scientists have known for decades that the brain may sometimes feel microwaves as sounds. "Everyone was pretty skeptical at first," Smith said, "and everyone agrees now that there is something about it."
The State Department said the investigation into the attacks on the embassy continues.
Last year, more than 20 American diplomats in Cuba were reported to have been traumatized by loud voices, including ringing, buzzing and grinding noise. The phenomenon was defined by the US government as "specific attacks".
At first, the US thought it was being amplified by sound waves, viral infections, or "infectious anxiety." The events caused a diplomatic rupture between the United States and Cuba. The United States claimed that it did not know who was behind the attacks, but Cuba was responsible for protecting all diplomats on its soil.