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Mobile phone emission modulates event-related desynchronization of α rhythms and cognitive-motor performance in healthy humans.

Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2012 · Benefit · Low evidence

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BenefitLow evidencePaper 4442

In the GSM-EMF exposure session, post- vs pre-exposure showed less power decrease of widely distributed high-frequency alpha rhythms and faster reaction time to go stimuli. No effect was found in the sham session.

Study snapshot

PublicationClinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2012
Study typerandomized_trial
Reported directionBenefit
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: It has been shown that electromagnetic fields of Global System for Mobile Communications phone (GSM-EMFs) affect human brain rhythms (Vecchio et al., 2007, 2010), but it is not yet clear whether these effects are related to alterations of cognitive functions. METHODS: Eleven healthy adults underwent two electroencephalographic (EEG) sessions separated by 1 week, following a cross-over, placebo-controlled, double-blind paradigm. In both sessions, they performed a visual go/no-go task before real exposure to GSM-EMFs or after a sham condition with no EMF exposure. In the GSM real session, temporal cortex was continuously exposed to GSM-EMFs for 45 min. In the sham session, the subjects were not aware that the EMFs had been switched off for the duration of the experiment. In the go/no-go task, a central fixation stimulus was followed by a green (50% of probability) or red visual stimulus. Subjects had to press the mouse button after the green stimuli (go trials). With reference to a baseline period, power decrease of low- (about 8-10 Hz) and high-frequency (about 10-12 Hz) alpha rhythms indexed the cortical activity. RESULTS: It was found less power decrease of widely distributed high-frequency alpha rhythms and faster reaction time to go stimuli in the post- than pre-exposure period of the GSM session. No effect was found in the sham session. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the peak amplitude of alpha ERD and the reaction time to the go stimuli are modulated by the effect of the GSM-EMFs on the cortical activity. SIGNIFICANCE: Exposure to GSM-EMFs for 45 min may enhance human cortical neural efficiency and simple cognitive-motor processes in healthy adults.

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 directionbenefit
Population11 healthy adults
Sample size11
ExposureRF · 45 min
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In the GSM-EMF exposure session, post- vs pre-exposure showed less power decrease of widely distributed high-frequency alpha rhythms and faster reaction time to go stimuli. No effect was found in the sham session.

Outcomes measured

  • EEG event-related desynchronization (ERD) of alpha rhythms (low ~8–10 Hz; high ~10–12 Hz)
  • Reaction time to go stimuli in a visual go/no-go task

Limitations

  • Small sample size (n=11)
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "randomized_trial",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "45 min"
  },
  "population": "11 healthy adults",
  "sample_size": 11,
  "outcomes": [
    "EEG event-related desynchronization (ERD) of alpha rhythms (low ~8–10 Hz; high ~10–12 Hz)",
    "Reaction time to go stimuli in a visual go/no-go task"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In the GSM-EMF exposure session, post- vs pre-exposure showed less power decrease of widely distributed high-frequency alpha rhythms and faster reaction time to go stimuli. No effect was found in the sham session.",
  "effect_direction": "benefit",
  "limitations": [
    "Small sample size (n=11)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "GSM",
    "mobile phone",
    "RF-EMF",
    "EEG",
    "alpha rhythm",
    "event-related desynchronization",
    "go/no-go task",
    "reaction time",
    "double-blind",
    "placebo-controlled",
    "cross-over"
  ],
  "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.2011.06.019
PubMed: 21873111

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