Effects of electromagnetic fields emitted by cellular phones on the electroencephalogram during a visual working memory task.
Krause CM, Sillanmaki L, Koivisto M, Haggqvist A, Saarela C, Revonsuo A, Laine M, Hamalainen H, · 2000
View Original AbstractCell phone radiation altered brainwave patterns during memory tasks, showing direct interference with brain electrical activity during thinking.
Plain English Summary
Finnish researchers tested how cell phone radiation affects brain activity during memory tasks by measuring brainwaves in 24 people while they performed visual memory exercises. They found that 902 MHz cell phone radiation altered specific brainwave patterns (around 8 Hz frequency) during cognitive processing, but only under certain memory load conditions. This suggests that cell phone radiation can directly interfere with the brain's electrical activity while you're thinking and remembering.
Why This Matters
This study provides compelling evidence that cell phone radiation doesn't just heat tissue - it actively interferes with your brain's electrical processes during cognitive tasks. The researchers used 902 MHz radiation, which falls within the frequency range of older GSM phones and is still used in some modern cell networks. What makes this research particularly significant is that it demonstrates EMF effects on brain function during actual cognitive processing, not just at rest. The findings align with a growing body of research showing that EMF exposure can alter brainwave patterns, which may help explain why some people report concentration difficulties, memory problems, or mental fatigue after prolonged phone use. While the study doesn't specify exact exposure levels, the fact that measurable changes occurred during a controlled laboratory setting suggests your brain's electrical activity is more sensitive to EMF than previously understood.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. The study examined exposure from: 4-6 Hz, 6-8 Hz, 8-10 Hz and 10-12 Hz, and 902 MHz
Study Details
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.
Twenty-four subjects performed a visual sequential letter task (n-back task) with three different wo...
The presence of EMF altered the ERD/ERS responses in the 6-8 and 8-10 Hz frequency bands but only wh...
The results suggest that the exposure to EMF modulates the responses of EEG oscillatory activity approximately 8 Hz specifically during cognitive processes.
Show BibTeX
@article{cm_2000_effects_of_electromagnetic_fields_2309,
author = {Krause CM and Sillanmaki L and Koivisto M and Haggqvist A and Saarela C and Revonsuo A and Laine M and Hamalainen H and},
title = {Effects of electromagnetic fields emitted by cellular phones on the electroencephalogram during a visual working memory task.},
year = {2000},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11133048/},
}