Transient and cumulative memory impairments induced by GSM 1.8 GHz cell phone signal in a mouse model
Ntzouni MP, Skouroliakou A, Kostomitsopoulos N, Margaritis LH · 2013
View Original AbstractDaily cell phone radiation exposure impaired mouse memory at levels below safety limits, with effects lasting weeks after exposure ended.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed mice to cell phone radiation (GSM 1.8 GHz) for 90 minutes daily to test effects on memory. After weeks of exposure, the mice showed significant problems with both spatial memory (remembering locations) and non-spatial memory (recognizing objects). These memory problems persisted for two weeks after radiation stopped but fully recovered after a month, suggesting the brain can repair this type of damage over time.
Why This Matters
This research provides compelling evidence that the type of radiation emitted by cell phones can impair memory formation and recall. The SAR level used (0.11 W/kg) is well below the FCC limit of 1.6 W/kg, yet still produced measurable cognitive effects after sustained daily exposure. What makes this study particularly significant is that it demonstrates both the cumulative nature of EMF effects and the brain's capacity for recovery when exposure is reduced. The fact that memory problems persisted for two weeks after exposure ended suggests these aren't just temporary disruptions but involve actual changes to brain function. The good news is the complete recovery observed after a month, indicating our brains have repair mechanisms that can address EMF-induced damage when given the opportunity.
Exposure Details
- SAR
- 0.11 W/kg
- Electric Field
- 12 V/m
- Source/Device
- GSM 1.8 GHz cell phone
- Exposure Duration
- 90 min daily
Exposure Context
This study used 12 V/m for electric fields:
- 40x above the Building Biology guideline of 0.3 V/m
Building Biology guidelines are practitioner-based limits from real-world assessments. BioInitiative Report recommendations are based on peer-reviewed science. Check Your Exposure to compare your own measurements.
Where This Falls on the Concern Scale
Study Details
This study was designed to investigate the transient and cumulative impairments in spatial and non-spatial memory of C57Bl/6J mice exposed to GSM 1.8 GHz signal for 90 min daily by a typical cellular (mobile) phone at a specific absorption rate value of 0.11 W/kg.
Free-moving male mice 2 months old were irradiated in two experimental protocols, lasting for 66 and...
One-way analysis of variance revealed statistically significant impairments of both types of memory ...
The overall contribution of several possible mechanisms to the observed cumulative and transient impairments in spatial and non-spatial memory is discussed.
Show BibTeX
@article{mp_2013_transient_and_cumulative_memory_163,
author = {Ntzouni MP and Skouroliakou A and Kostomitsopoulos N and Margaritis LH},
title = {Transient and cumulative memory impairments induced by GSM 1.8 GHz cell phone signal in a mouse model},
year = {2013},
doi = {10.3109/15368378.2012.709207},
url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/15368378.2012.709207},
}