Effects of radiofrequency radiation emitted by cellular telephones on the cognitive functions of humans

Ilan Eliyahu, Roy Luria, Ronen Hareuveny, Menachem Margaliot, Nachshon Meiran, Gad Shani

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

54 Scopus citations

Abstract

The present study examined the effects of exposure to Electromagnetic Radiation emitted by a standard GSM phone at 890 MHz on human cognitive functions. This study attempted to establish a connection between the exposure of a specific area of the brain and the cognitive functions associated with that area. A total of 36 healthy right-handed male subjects performed four distinct cognitive tasks: spatial item recognition, verbal item recognition, and two spatial compatibility tasks. Tasks were chosen according to the brain side they are assumed to activate. All subjects performed the tasks under three exposure conditions: right side, left side, and sham exposure. The phones were controlled by a base station simulator and operated at their full power. We have recorded the reaction times (RTs) and accuracy of the responses. The experiments consisted of two sections, of 1 h each, with a 5 min break in between. The tasks and the exposure regimes were counterbalanced. The results indicated that the exposure of the left side of the brain slows down the left-hand response time, in the second-later-part of the experiment. This effect was apparent in three of the four tasks, and was highly significant in only one of the tests. The exposure intensity and its duration exceeded the common exposure of cellular phone users.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)119-126
Number of pages8
JournalBioelectromagnetics
Volume27
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2006

Keywords

  • Cognitive function ability
  • GSM
  • Left hemisphere
  • Right hemisphere

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biophysics
  • Physiology
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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