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Time-course of electromagnetic field effects on human performance and tympanic temperature.

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Curcio G, Ferrara M, De Gennaro L, Cristiani R, D'Inzeo G, Bertini M. · 2004

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Cell phone-frequency radiation improves reaction time while heating tissue, with effects requiring 25+ minutes of exposure to become measurable.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed people to cell phone-frequency radiation (902.40 MHz) for 25 minutes and tested their reaction times and ear temperature. They found that radiation exposure made people react faster on cognitive tests and raised the temperature in the exposed ear. The study shows that measurable biological changes from wireless radiation require at least 25 minutes of exposure to become apparent.

Why This Matters

This study provides clear evidence that wireless radiation at cell phone frequencies produces measurable biological effects in humans, including both cognitive changes and tissue heating. The 902.40 MHz frequency used falls squarely within the range of modern wireless devices, making these findings directly relevant to daily exposure from smartphones and other wireless technologies. What's particularly significant is the documented time-course showing that biological effects accumulate over time, requiring at least 25 minutes of continuous exposure to become detectable. This challenges the common assumption that brief exposures are harmless and suggests that longer phone calls or extended device use may produce more pronounced biological responses than previously recognized. The combination of improved reaction times alongside increased tissue temperature indicates that EMF exposure affects both neurological function and thermal regulation simultaneously.

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 902.4 MHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 902.4 MHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. The study examined exposure from: 902.40 MHz Duration: 25 minutes

Study Details

The study aimed to investigate the time-course of electromagnetic field (EMF)-induced effects on human cognitive and behavioral performance and on tympanic temperature.

Subjects were randomly assigned to two groups, exposed to a 902.40 MHz EMF before the testing sessio...

Results indicated an improvement of both simple- and choice-reaction times and an increase of local ...

There was a clear time-course of the reaction time and temperature data, indicating that performance and physiological measures need a minimum of 25 min of EMF exposure to show appreciable changes.

Cite This Study
Curcio G, Ferrara M, De Gennaro L, Cristiani R, D'Inzeo G, Bertini M. (2004). Time-course of electromagnetic field effects on human performance and tympanic temperature. Neuroreport. 15(1):161-164, 2004.
Show BibTeX
@article{g_2004_timecourse_of_electromagnetic_field_2004,
  author = {Curcio G and Ferrara M and De Gennaro L and Cristiani R and D'Inzeo G and Bertini M.},
  title = {Time-course of electromagnetic field effects on human performance and tympanic temperature.},
  year = {2004},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15106850/},
}
PubMed: 15106850

Cited By (59 papers)

View all 59 citing papers on Semantic Scholar

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, a 2004 study found that 25-minute exposure to 902.40 MHz radiation improved both simple and choice reaction times on cognitive tests. Participants showed faster responses after exposure to this specific cell phone frequency, demonstrating measurable performance enhancement from wireless radiation.
Research shows that EMF exposure needs at least 25 minutes to produce measurable changes in reaction time and body temperature. The 2004 Curcio study found no significant effects before this threshold, indicating biological changes from wireless radiation require sustained exposure periods.
Yes, 25-minute exposure to 902.40 MHz radiation increased local temperature in the exposed ear region. The 2004 study measured tympanic temperature changes, showing that cell phone frequency radiation produces detectable thermal effects in human tissue after sustained exposure.
Research demonstrates that 902.40 MHz radiation produces dual biological effects: improved cognitive reaction times and increased ear temperature. The 2004 study found these changes occurred simultaneously after 25 minutes of exposure, showing both performance and physiological responses.
Twenty-five minutes of 902.40 MHz radiation exposure improved both simple reaction time and choice reaction time performance in healthy adults. The study found enhanced cognitive processing speed, suggesting that specific cell phone frequencies can temporarily boost certain brain functions.