Mobile phone 'talk-mode' signal delays EEG-determined sleep onset.
Hung CS, Anderson C, Horne JA, McEvoy P. · 2007
View Original AbstractMobile phone talk-mode signals delayed sleep onset in healthy adults, suggesting daytime phone use affects nighttime sleep quality.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed 10 healthy young adults to a GSM mobile phone in 'talk mode' for 30 minutes during the day, then measured how long it took them to fall asleep afterward. They found that exposure to the phone's talk-mode signal significantly delayed the onset of sleep compared to when the phone was off or in other modes. The study suggests that the specific radio frequency patterns used during phone calls may interfere with the brain's natural transition to sleep.
Why This Matters
This controlled study adds to growing evidence that mobile phone radiation affects sleep patterns, even when exposure occurs hours before bedtime. The researchers used a GSM900 phone at 12.5% power - a realistic exposure level during typical phone calls. What makes this study particularly significant is its focus on the specific 'talk mode' signal pattern, which differs from other phone functions. The finding that sleep onset was delayed specifically after talk-mode exposure, but not after other modes, suggests the pulsed radio frequency patterns matter as much as the radiation itself. This has practical implications for anyone who uses their phone during the day and values quality sleep. The research demonstrates that EMF effects on sleep aren't just about keeping phones out of the bedroom - the timing and type of exposure throughout the day may influence how well you sleep hours later.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. The study examined exposure from: 2, 8, 217 Hz, GSM900 mobile phone Duration: 30 min, at 13:30 h
Study Details
The aim of this study was to investigate 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...
We report on sleep onset using: (i) visually scored latency to onset of stage 2 sleep, (ii) EEG powe...
It is possible that 2, 8, 217 Hz modulation may differentially affect sleep onset.
Show BibTeX
@article{cs_2007_mobile_phone_talkmode_signal_1749,
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},
}