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Brain & Nervous System

Scalp localization of human auditory cortical activity modified by GSM electromagnetic fields.

No Effects Found

Maby E, Jeannes Rle B, Faucon G · 2006

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Cell phone radiation measurably altered brain wave patterns in both healthy people and epilepsy patients, showing our brains respond to RF exposure.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

French researchers studied how cell phone radiation affects brain activity by measuring electrical responses to sound in 9 healthy people and 6 epilepsy patients. They found that GSM phone signals altered the timing and strength of brain waves, with different effects in healthy people versus those with epilepsy. While the changes were measurable, the researchers couldn't determine if these brain activity modifications cause actual health problems.

Why This Matters

This study adds to a growing body of evidence showing that cell phone radiation can measurably alter brain function, even when researchers can't definitively link these changes to health harm. The fact that epileptic patients showed different responses than healthy subjects suggests some people may be more vulnerable to RF effects. What makes this research particularly significant is that it demonstrates localized brain changes - the alterations occurred specifically in areas of the brain closest to where a phone would typically be held. The science demonstrates that our brains are not immune to electromagnetic fields, contrary to what the wireless industry often claims. While we can't yet draw direct lines from these brain wave changes to specific health outcomes, the reality is that any technology capable of altering normal brain activity deserves our careful attention and precautionary approach.

Study Details

This study attempted to determine whether there is a localized effect of GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) microwaves by studying the Auditory Evoked Potentials (AEP) recorded at the scalp of nine healthy subjects and six epileptic patients.

We determined the influence of GSM RadioFrequency (RF) on parameters characterizing the AEP in time ...

The epileptic patients showed a lengthening of the scalp component N100 (100 ms latency) in the fron...

The present study suggests that radiofrequency fields emitted by mobile phones modify the AEP. Nevertheless, no direct link between these findings and RF-induced damages in brain function was established.

Cite This Study
Maby E, Jeannes Rle B, Faucon G (2006). Scalp localization of human auditory cortical activity modified by GSM electromagnetic fields. Int J Radiat Biol. 82(7):465-472, 2006.
Show BibTeX
@article{e_2006_scalp_localization_of_human_3216,
  author = {Maby E and Jeannes Rle B and Faucon G},
  title = {Scalp localization of human auditory cortical activity modified by GSM electromagnetic fields.},
  year = {2006},
  doi = {10.1080/09553000600863072},
  url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09553000600863072},
}
DOI: 10.1080/09553000600863072

Cited By (17 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, French researchers found that GSM phone radiation modified brain wave timing and strength when people listened to sounds. The study measured electrical responses in 9 healthy people and 6 epilepsy patients, showing different brain wave changes in each group, though health impacts remain unclear.
Yes, epilepsy patients showed lengthened N100 brain waves in frontal areas opposite the phone radiation source, while healthy subjects showed increased P200 wave amplitude. This 2006 French study suggests people with epilepsy may have different brain responses to GSM signals than healthy individuals.
Yes, healthy subjects exposed to GSM phone radiation showed increased amplitude of P200 brain waves (occurring 200 milliseconds after hearing sounds) in frontal brain areas. However, researchers couldn't determine whether these measurable brain activity changes cause actual health problems or functional damage.
Research suggests yes - GSM phone radiation modified auditory evoked potentials (brain responses to sound) in both healthy people and epilepsy patients. The study found altered timing and strength of brain waves when processing sounds, though no direct link to brain damage was established.
Epilepsy patients showed lengthened N100 brain waves (occurring 100 milliseconds after sound) in frontal areas opposite the phone radiation. This timing change may indicate altered nerve pathway function, though the 2006 French study couldn't confirm whether these modifications cause actual brain damage.