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Brain & Nervous System

Effect of electromagnetic fields emitted by cellular phones on the latency of evoked electrodermal activity.

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Esen F, Esen H · 2006

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Cell phone radiation delays brain responses by 200 milliseconds, potentially slowing reaction times during critical activities like driving.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

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.

Cite This Study
Esen F, Esen H (2006). Effect of electromagnetic fields emitted by cellular phones on the latency of evoked electrodermal activity. Int J Neurosci. 116(3):321-329, 2006.
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/},
}
PubMed: 16484058

Cited By (11 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, a 2006 Turkish study found that cell phone electromagnetic fields delayed nervous system responses by about 200 milliseconds. This delay in brain timing functions could increase reaction times and potentially affect activities requiring quick responses, like driving.
Turkish researchers found that cell phone electromagnetic fields significantly altered skin conductance responses, which reflect sympathetic nervous system activity. The radiation delayed these neurological responses by approximately 200 milliseconds regardless of which side of the head was exposed.
The 2006 Esen study showed that cell phone electromagnetic fields disrupted normal hemispheric asymmetry in electrodermal activity pathways. This interference with brain hemisphere coordination affects the timing functions crucial for motor responses and neural network communication.
Research suggests yes - a Turkish study found that cell phone electromagnetic fields delayed central nervous system responses involved in motor timing. The researchers concluded this could potentially increase the risk of phone-related driving hazards due to slower reaction times.
Cell phone electromagnetic fields affect sympathetic nervous system activity and motor timing functions. Turkish researchers found that radiation exposure disrupted electrodermal activity pathways in the central nervous system, which are involved in time estimation and response coordination tasks.