Acute effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic field emitted by mobile phone on brain function.
Zhang J, Sumich A, Wang GY. · 2017
View Original AbstractMobile phone radiation measurably increases brain activity in areas closest to the phone, potentially disrupting sleep and cognitive function.
Plain English Summary
Researchers reviewed recent brain imaging and brain wave studies to examine whether mobile phone radiation affects brain function. They found that phone radiation appears to increase brain activity and efficiency, particularly in areas near where you hold the phone, and this increased activity was linked to faster reaction times and sleep disruption. The findings suggest the scientific question of mobile phone effects on the brain should be reopened, though the researchers note that long-term effects remain largely unstudied.
Why This Matters
This review represents a significant shift in the scientific conversation about mobile phone radiation and brain function. For years, the prevailing view held that phones produce no meaningful short-term cognitive effects. But as this analysis demonstrates, newer brain imaging technologies are revealing measurable changes in cortical excitability and neural efficiency during phone use. What makes this particularly concerning is that the increased brain activity occurs precisely in the fronto-temporal regions where you hold your phone against your head. The connection between this heightened brain activity and sleep disruption is especially noteworthy, given that quality sleep is fundamental to cognitive health and overall wellbeing. Perhaps most importantly, the researchers acknowledge what many in the field have long recognized: we have essentially no data on the long-term effects of mobile phone radiation on brain function, despite billions of people using these devices daily for decades.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Study Details
The aim of this review is to readdress the question of whether the effect of MP EMF exposure on brain function should be reopened.
We strengthen our argument focusing on recent neuroimaging and electroencephalography studies, in or...
everal studies indicate an increase in cortical excitability and/or efficiency with EMF exposure, wh...
Show BibTeX
@article{j_2017_acute_effects_of_radiofrequency_2702,
author = {Zhang J and Sumich A and Wang GY.},
title = {Acute effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic field emitted by mobile phone on brain function.},
year = {2017},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28426166/},
}