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Mobile phone 'talk-mode' signal delays EEG-determined sleep onset.

Bioeffects Seen

Hung CS, Anderson C, Horne JA, McEvoy P · 2007

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Mobile phone talk-mode signals delayed sleep onset in healthy adults at typical exposure levels, suggesting phone use affects sleep hours later.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed 10 healthy young adults to different mobile phone signal modes for 30 minutes, then measured how long it took them to fall asleep. They found that exposure to 'talk mode' signals significantly delayed sleep onset compared to listening mode or no signal exposure. The study suggests that the specific signal patterns phones emit during calls may interfere with the brain's natural transition to sleep.

Why This Matters

This study provides compelling evidence that mobile phone signals can directly interfere with sleep onset, one of our most fundamental biological processes. The researchers found that talk-mode signals delayed sleep significantly more than listen-mode or no signal at all, suggesting it's not just about EMF exposure but the specific signal characteristics that matter. What makes this particularly relevant is that the exposure level (SAR of 0.133 W/kg) is well within current safety limits and typical of real-world phone use. The science demonstrates that even brief exposures during daytime can affect your sleep hours later. This adds to a growing body of research showing EMF impacts on circadian rhythms and sleep quality. The reality is that your phone doesn't just affect you when you're actively using it - the biological effects can persist well after exposure ends.

Exposure Details

SAR
0.133, 0.015, 0.001 W/kg
Source/Device
GSM900 mobile phone
Exposure Duration
continuous for 30 min

Where This Falls on the Concern Scale

Study Exposure Level in ContextA logarithmic scale showing exposure levels relative to Building Biology concern thresholds and regulatory limits.Study Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 0.133, 0.015, 0.001 W/kgExtreme Concern0.1 W/kgFCC Limit1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Slight Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 1,600x higher than this exposure level

Study Details

To study about mobile phone ‘talk-mode’ signal delays EEG-determined sleep onset.

We used a GSM900 mobile phone controlled by a base-station simulator and a test SIM card to simulate...

There was no condition effect for subjective sleepiness. Post-exposure, sleep latency after talk mod...

Cite This Study
Hung CS, Anderson C, Horne JA, McEvoy P (2007). Mobile phone 'talk-mode' signal delays EEG-determined sleep onset. Neurosci Lett. 421(1):82-86, 2007.
Show BibTeX
@article{cs_2007_mobile_phone_talkmode_signal_109,
  author = {Hung CS and Anderson C and Horne JA and McEvoy P},
  title = {Mobile phone 'talk-mode' signal delays EEG-determined sleep onset.},
  year = {2007},
  
  url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304394007006003},
}

Quick Questions About This Study

Researchers exposed 10 healthy young adults to different mobile phone signal modes for 30 minutes, then measured how long it took them to fall asleep. They found that exposure to 'talk mode' signals significantly delayed sleep onset compared to listening mode or no signal exposure. The study suggests that the specific signal patterns phones emit during calls may interfere with the brain's natural transition to sleep.