The acute effects of exposure to the electromagnetic field emitted by mobile phones on human attention.
Edelstyn N, Oldershaw A. · 2002
View Original AbstractMobile phone radiation temporarily improved attention and processing speed in this study, suggesting brain effects are complex rather than simply harmful.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed 38 healthy volunteers to electromagnetic fields from 900 MHz mobile phones for 30 minutes to test effects on attention and mental processing. They found that phone exposure actually improved performance on three cognitive tests measuring attention span and processing speed, with no negative effects observed. This suggests that short-term mobile phone radiation may temporarily enhance certain brain functions rather than impair them.
Why This Matters
This study presents an intriguing finding that challenges common assumptions about mobile phone effects on the brain. While many people worry that phone radiation impairs cognitive function, this research found the opposite - temporary improvements in attention and processing speed after 30 minutes of 900 MHz exposure. The science demonstrates that EMF effects on the brain are complex and not uniformly negative. However, we should interpret these results cautiously. Enhanced performance doesn't necessarily mean the exposure is beneficial - it could indicate overstimulation or stress responses that might have long-term consequences. What this means for you is that the immediate cognitive effects of phone use are likely subtle and variable, but the bigger question remains whether chronic, long-term exposure carries health risks that short-term studies like this cannot detect.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. The study examined exposure from: 900 MHz Duration: 30 minutes
Study Details
The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of acute mobile phone exposure on a range of tasks which tapped capacity and processing speed within the attentional system
Thirty-eight healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to either an experimental group which was exp...
Significant differences between the two groups were evident after 5 min on two tests of attentional ...
These findings are discussed in terms of possible functional and neuroanatomical bases.
Show BibTeX
@article{n_2002_the_acute_effects_of_2048,
author = {Edelstyn N and Oldershaw A.},
title = {The acute effects of exposure to the electromagnetic field emitted by mobile phones on human attention.},
year = {2002},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11924872/},
}