Mobile phone emissions and human brain excitability.

Annals of neurology · 2006 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 5122

In a double-blind cross-over design, real GSM mobile phone EMF exposure significantly modified intracortical excitability in the acutely exposed hemisphere compared with the contralateral non-exposed hemisphere and with sham exposure, with reduced SICI and en…

Study snapshot

PublicationAnnals of neurology · 2006

Study typerandomized_trial

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To test-via Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)-the excitability of each brain hemisphere after 'real' or 'sham' exposure to the electromagnetic field (EMF) generated by a mobile phone operating in the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM). METHODS: Fifteen male volunteers attended two experimental sessions, one week apart, in a cross-over, double-blind paradigm. In one session the signal was turned ON (EMF-on, real exposure), in the other it was turned OFF (EMF-off, sham exposure), for 45 minutes. Motor Evoked Potentials (MEPs) were recorded using a paired-pulse paradigm (testing intracortical excitability with 1 to 17 ms interstimulus intervals), both before and at different times after exposure to the EMF. Short Intracortical Inhibition (SICI) and Facilitation (ICF) curves were evaluated both on the exposed and non-exposed hemispheres. Tympanic temperature was collected during each session. RESULTS: The intracortical excitability curve becomes significantly modified during real exposure, with SICI being reduced and ICF enhanced in the acutely exposed brain hemisphere as compared to the contralateral, non-exposed hemisphere or to sham exposure. Tympanic temperature showed no significant main effect or interactions. INTERPRETATION: These results demonstrate that GSM-EMFs modify brain excitability. Possible implications and applications are discussed.

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 directionmixed

PopulationFifteen male volunteers

Sample size15

ExposureRF · 45 minutes

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Brain hemisphere excitability assessed by TMS paired-pulse measures
Short Intracortical Inhibition (SICI)
Intracortical Facilitation (ICF)
Motor Evoked Potentials (MEPs)
Tympanic temperature

Limitations

Small sample size (15 participants)
Participants were all male volunteers
Exposure frequency and SAR not reported in the abstract
Short-term exposure only (45 minutes)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "randomized_trial",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "45 minutes"
  },
  "population": "Fifteen male volunteers",
  "sample_size": 15,
  "outcomes": [
    "Brain hemisphere excitability assessed by TMS paired-pulse measures",
    "Short Intracortical Inhibition (SICI)",
    "Intracortical Facilitation (ICF)",
    "Motor Evoked Potentials (MEPs)",
    "Tympanic temperature"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In a double-blind cross-over design, real GSM mobile phone EMF exposure significantly modified intracortical excitability in the acutely exposed hemisphere compared with the contralateral non-exposed hemisphere and with sham exposure, with reduced SICI and enhanced ICF. Tympanic temperature showed no significant effects.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Small sample size (15 participants)",
    "Participants were all male volunteers",
    "Exposure frequency and SAR not reported in the abstract",
    "Short-term exposure only (45 minutes)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "GSM",
    "mobile phone",
    "RF-EMF",
    "brain excitability",
    "transcranial magnetic stimulation",
    "TMS",
    "motor evoked potentials",
    "SICI",
    "ICF",
    "double-blind",
    "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: 10.1002/ana.20906
PubMed: 16802289

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