Effect of electromagnetic fields emitted by cellular phones on the latency of evoked electrodermal activity.
Esen F, Esen H · 2006
View Original AbstractCell phone radiation delays brain responses by 200 milliseconds, potentially slowing reaction times during critical activities like driving.
Plain English Summary
Turkish researchers examined how cell phone radiation affects the nervous system by measuring skin conductance responses, which reflect sympathetic nervous system activity. They found that exposure to cell phone electromagnetic fields delayed these neurological responses by about 200 milliseconds and disrupted normal brain hemisphere coordination. This suggests cell phone radiation can interfere with brain timing functions that are crucial for motor responses and reaction times.
Why This Matters
This study adds important evidence to our understanding of how cell phone radiation affects brain function in real-time. The 200-millisecond delay in nervous system responses may seem small, but it represents a measurable disruption of normal brain timing mechanisms. What makes this particularly concerning is that these same brain regions control motor timing and reaction speed - functions critical for activities like driving. The researchers specifically highlight the potential for increased driving hazards, which aligns with epidemiological studies showing higher accident rates among cell phone users. While this study doesn't specify exposure levels, the effects occurred regardless of which side of the head was exposed, suggesting the brain's electrical activity is sensitive to the radiofrequency fields emitted by phones during normal use.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Study Details
The authors examined the effect of electromagnetic fields emitted by cellular phones (CPEMFs) on the evoked neuronal activity of CNS relating to generation and representation of electrodermal activity (EDA), an index of sympathetic nervous system activity.
EDA (skin resistance response; SRR) latency was lengthened approximately 200 ms with CPEMFs exposure...
Therefore, the findings point to the potential risks of mobile phones on the function of CNS and consequently, possible increase in the risk of phone-related driving hazards.
Show BibTeX
@article{f_2006_effect_of_electromagnetic_fields_2065,
author = {Esen F and Esen H},
title = {Effect of electromagnetic fields emitted by cellular phones on the latency of evoked electrodermal activity.},
year = {2006},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16484058/},
}