RF Safe

The effect of electromagnetic field emitted by a mobile phone on the inhibitory control of saccades.

Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2010 · No effect · Low evidence

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No effectLow evidencePaper 4397

In a double-blind, counterbalanced crossover study, several saccade metrics (e.g., CUED and OL2 latency shortening; AS amplitude and velocities in AS/CUED/OL1) changed after exposure, but these changes occurred regardless of real versus sham exposure. Measure…

Study snapshot

PublicationClinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2010
Study typerandomized_trial
Reported directionNo effect
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether exposure to a pulsed high-frequency electromagnetic field (pulsed EMF) emitted by a mobile phone has short-term effects on the inhibitory control of saccades. METHODS: A double-blind, counterbalanced crossover study design was employed. We assessed the performance of 10 normal subjects on antisaccade (AS) and cued saccade (CUED) tasks as well as two types of overlap saccade (OL1, OL2) task before and after 30 min of exposure to EMF emitted by a mobile phone or sham exposure. RESULTS: After EMF or sham exposure, we observed a slight but significant shortening of latency in the CUED and OL2 tasks. AS amplitude decreased as well as the saccade velocities in the AS, CUED, and OL1 tasks after exposure. These changes occurred regardless of whether exposure was real or sham. The frequencies of pro-saccades in the AS task, saccades to cue in the CUED task, and prematurely initiated saccades in the overlap (OL2) task did not change significantly after real or sham EMF exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Thirty minutes of mobile phone exposure has no significant short-term effect on the inhibitory control of saccades. SIGNIFICANCE: The cortical processing responsible for saccade inhibition is not affected by exposure to EMF emitted by a mobile phone.

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typerandomized_trial
Effect directionno_effect
Population10 normal subjects
Sample size10
ExposureRF · 30 min
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In a double-blind, counterbalanced crossover study, several saccade metrics (e.g., CUED and OL2 latency shortening; AS amplitude and velocities in AS/CUED/OL1) changed after exposure, but these changes occurred regardless of real versus sham exposure. Measures more directly related to inhibitory control (e.g., pro-saccade frequency in AS, saccades to cue in CUED, premature saccades in OL2) did not change significantly after real or sham exposure. The authors conclude that 30 minutes of mobile phone EMF exposure has no significant short-term effect on inhibitory control of saccades.

Outcomes measured

  • Inhibitory control of saccades
  • Antisaccade (AS) task performance (e.g., amplitude, velocity, pro-saccade frequency)
  • Cued saccade (CUED) task performance (e.g., latency, velocity, saccades to cue)
  • Overlap saccade tasks (OL1, OL2) performance (e.g., latency, velocity, premature saccades)

Limitations

  • Small sample size (n=10)
  • Short-term exposure only (30 minutes)
  • Exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, SAR) not reported in abstract
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "randomized_trial",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "30 min"
  },
  "population": "10 normal subjects",
  "sample_size": 10,
  "outcomes": [
    "Inhibitory control of saccades",
    "Antisaccade (AS) task performance (e.g., amplitude, velocity, pro-saccade frequency)",
    "Cued saccade (CUED) task performance (e.g., latency, velocity, saccades to cue)",
    "Overlap saccade tasks (OL1, OL2) performance (e.g., latency, velocity, premature saccades)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In a double-blind, counterbalanced crossover study, several saccade metrics (e.g., CUED and OL2 latency shortening; AS amplitude and velocities in AS/CUED/OL1) changed after exposure, but these changes occurred regardless of real versus sham exposure. Measures more directly related to inhibitory control (e.g., pro-saccade frequency in AS, saccades to cue in CUED, premature saccades in OL2) did not change significantly after real or sham exposure. The authors conclude that 30 minutes of mobile phone EMF exposure has no significant short-term effect on inhibitory control of saccades.",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [
    "Small sample size (n=10)",
    "Short-term exposure only (30 minutes)",
    "Exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, SAR) not reported in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "mobile phone",
    "pulsed high-frequency electromagnetic field",
    "RF exposure",
    "double-blind",
    "crossover",
    "sham exposure",
    "saccades",
    "antisaccade",
    "inhibitory control",
    "latency",
    "velocity"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}
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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2009.12.006
PubMed: 20083428

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