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Brain & Nervous System

The effects of mobile-phone electromagnetic fields on brain electrical activity: a critical analysis of the literature

No Effects Found

Marino AA, Carrubba S · 2009

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Industry funding of 87% of mobile phone brain studies has manufactured doubt rather than answered whether phones affect brain activity.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers analyzed 55 studies examining whether mobile phone radiation affects brain electrical activity measured by EEG. They found that 87% of these studies were funded by the wireless industry, and that both positive and negative studies had serious methodological flaws that prevented reliable conclusions. The authors argue that this systematic doubt about EMF effects was manufactured by industry funding rather than reflecting genuine scientific uncertainty.

Study Details

We analyzed the reports in which human brain electrical activity was compared between the presence and absence of radio-frequency and low-frequency electromagnetic fields (EMFs) from mobile phones, or between pre- and post-exposure to the EMFs.

Of 55 reports, 37 claimed and 18 denied an EMF-induced effect on either the baseline electro encepha...

The positive reports did not adequately consider the family-wise error rate, the presence of spike a...

The crucial scientific question of the pathophysiology of mobile-phone EMFs as reflected in measurements of brain electrical activity remains unanswered, and essentially unaddressed.

Cite This Study
Marino AA, Carrubba S (2009). The effects of mobile-phone electromagnetic fields on brain electrical activity: a critical analysis of the literature Electromagn Biol Med. 28(3):250-274, 2009.
Show BibTeX
@article{aa_2009_the_effects_of_mobilephone_3230,
  author = {Marino AA and Carrubba S},
  title = {The effects of mobile-phone electromagnetic fields on brain electrical activity: a critical analysis of the literature},
  year = {2009},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20001702/},
}
PubMed: 20001702

Cited By (34 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, researchers found that at least 87% of studies examining mobile phone effects on brain electrical activity were funded partly or wholly by the wireless industry. This extensive industry funding created manufactured doubt about EMF effects rather than genuine scientific uncertainty.
Analysis of 55 EEG studies found no reliable conclusions could be drawn about mobile phone effects on brain electrical activity. Both positive and negative studies contained serious methodological flaws that prevented determining whether effects actually exist.
Studies showing effects failed to consider statistical error rates and EEG artifacts, while studies showing no effects lacked positive controls and power analyses. Most studies incorrectly assumed the brain was in equilibrium with surroundings.
Researchers identified common use of disclaimers, absence of conflict-of-interest information, and industry donations to EMF journals as evidence that doubt about mobile phone effects was manufactured rather than scientifically justified.
No, the crucial scientific question of mobile phone EMF effects on brain electrical activity remains unanswered and essentially unaddressed due to widespread methodological problems and industry influence in the research.