RF Safe

Effects of electromagnetic fields emitted by cellular phones on the electroencephalogram during a visual working memory task.

International journal of radiation biology · 2000 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 5330

Exposure to a digital 902 MHz EMF altered ERD/ERS responses in the 6–8 Hz and 8–10 Hz EEG bands, but effects were observed only when analyzed by working memory load and depended on whether stimuli were targets. The authors conclude EMF exposure modulates ~8 H…

Study snapshot

PublicationInternational journal of radiation biology · 2000
Study typerandomized_trial
Reported directionMixed
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

PURPOSE: To examine the effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) emitted by cellular phones on the event-related desynchronization/synchronization (ERD/ERS) responses of the 4-6, 6-8, 8-10 and 10-12Hz EEG frequency bands during cognitive processing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four subjects performed a visual sequential letter task (n-back task) with three different working memory load conditions: zero, one and two items. All subjects performed the memory task both with and without exposure to a digital 902 MHz EMF in counterbalanced order. RESULTS: The presence of EMF altered the ERD/ERS responses in the 6-8 and 8-10 Hz frequency bands but only when examined as a function of memory load and depending also on whether the presented stimulus was a target or not. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the exposure to EMF modulates the responses of EEG oscillatory activity approximately 8 Hz specifically during cognitive processes.

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
PopulationTwenty-four subjects
Sample size24
ExposureRF · 902 MHz
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Exposure to a digital 902 MHz EMF altered ERD/ERS responses in the 6–8 Hz and 8–10 Hz EEG bands, but effects were observed only when analyzed by working memory load and depended on whether stimuli were targets. The authors conclude EMF exposure modulates ~8 Hz EEG oscillatory responses during cognitive processing.

Outcomes measured

  • EEG event-related desynchronization/synchronization (ERD/ERS) responses
  • EEG oscillatory activity in 4–6 Hz, 6–8 Hz, 8–10 Hz, and 10–12 Hz bands during a visual working memory (n-back) task

Limitations

  • Specific exposure metrics (e.g., SAR, power density) not reported in the abstract
  • Duration of exposure not reported in the abstract
  • Direction/magnitude of ERD/ERS changes not specified in the abstract
  • Effects depended on task conditions (memory load and target vs non-target), suggesting context-specific findings
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "randomized_trial",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": 902,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Twenty-four subjects",
  "sample_size": 24,
  "outcomes": [
    "EEG event-related desynchronization/synchronization (ERD/ERS) responses",
    "EEG oscillatory activity in 4–6 Hz, 6–8 Hz, 8–10 Hz, and 10–12 Hz bands during a visual working memory (n-back) task"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Exposure to a digital 902 MHz EMF altered ERD/ERS responses in the 6–8 Hz and 8–10 Hz EEG bands, but effects were observed only when analyzed by working memory load and depended on whether stimuli were targets. The authors conclude EMF exposure modulates ~8 Hz EEG oscillatory responses during cognitive processing.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Specific exposure metrics (e.g., SAR, power density) not reported in the abstract",
    "Duration of exposure not reported in the abstract",
    "Direction/magnitude of ERD/ERS changes not specified in the abstract",
    "Effects depended on task conditions (memory load and target vs non-target), suggesting context-specific findings"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "cellular phone",
    "902 MHz",
    "RF EMF",
    "EEG",
    "ERD/ERS",
    "alpha band",
    "working memory",
    "n-back",
    "cognitive processing"
  ],
  "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: 10.1080/09553000050201154
PubMed: 11133048

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