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Acute effects of using a mobile phone on CNS functions.

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Hladky, A, Musil, J, Roth, Z, Urban, P, Blazkova, V · 1999

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Phone conversations impair driving-related cognitive tasks through distraction, not electromagnetic field exposure to the brain.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Czech researchers tested 20 volunteers using a Motorola GSM phone to see if electromagnetic fields affected brain function during phone calls. They found that the electromagnetic fields themselves didn't impair memory, attention, or visual processing. However, the act of talking on the phone significantly slowed reaction times and decision-making in a driving simulation test, suggesting the cognitive distraction of phone conversations poses real safety risks.

Why This Matters

This 1999 study provides an important distinction often overlooked in EMF research: separating the biological effects of electromagnetic radiation from the cognitive effects of device use. While the researchers found no measurable impact from the phone's electromagnetic fields on brain function tests, they documented significant impairment in attention-switching tasks that mirror real-world driving scenarios. What this means for you is that the safety concerns around phone use while driving aren't necessarily about EMF exposure to your brain, but rather the fundamental cognitive load of managing a conversation while performing complex tasks. The study's focus on psychological stress as a measurable factor also highlights how our modern relationship with wireless technology creates multiple pathways for health impacts beyond just electromagnetic exposure.

Exposure Information

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Study Details

The aim of this study is to investigate Acute effects of using a mobile phone on CNS functions.

Twenty volunteers participated in two experiments exploring the acute effects of using the mobile ph...

When speaking (5 minutes reading a text from daily newspapers) the electromagnetic fields from the m...

This is a proof that even a slight psychological stress involved in calling while driving can be a great risk.

Cite This Study
Hladky, A, Musil, J, Roth, Z, Urban, P, Blazkova, V (1999). Acute effects of using a mobile phone on CNS functions. Cent Eur J Public Health 7(4):165-167. 1999.
Show BibTeX
@article{hladky_1999_acute_effects_of_using_2195,
  author = {Hladky and A and Musil and J and Roth and Z and Urban and P and Blazkova and V},
  title = {Acute effects of using a mobile phone on CNS functions.},
  year = {1999},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10659374/},
}
PubMed: 10659374

Cited By (45 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, Czech researchers found that talking on a Motorola GSM phone significantly slowed reaction times and decision-making in driving simulation tests. The electromagnetic fields themselves didn't impair brain function, but the cognitive distraction of phone conversations created real safety risks while driving.
No, a 1999 Czech study found that GSM phone electromagnetic fields did not affect visual evoked potentials during 5-minute phone calls. The electromagnetic radiation itself showed no impact on visual processing or brain function in 20 volunteers tested.
No, Czech researchers found that 6-minute exposure to mobile phone electromagnetic fields did not affect memory test results while volunteers were speaking. The EMF exposure itself had no measurable impact on memory performance during active phone use.
Yes, the 1999 Czech study showed phone conversations strongly impaired performance on attention switching tests that model driving conditions. While EMF fields caused no brain effects, the psychological stress of phone conversations significantly reduced cognitive performance.
Yes, Czech researchers concluded that even slight psychological stress from phone conversations while driving creates significant safety risks. Their study proved that cognitive distraction, not electromagnetic fields, impairs the attention switching abilities needed for safe driving.