Effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields on cognitive processes - a pilot study on pulsed field interference with cognitive regeneration.
Maier R, Greter SE, Maier N · 2004
View Original AbstractBrief exposure to cell phone-type radiation impaired cognitive performance in 82% of test subjects, suggesting everyday device use may affect mental processing.
Plain English Summary
Researchers tested 11 volunteers on an auditory discrimination task before and after a 50-minute rest period, comparing performance when exposed to pulsed electromagnetic fields (GSM cell phone standard) versus field-free conditions. Nine of the 11 participants (82%) showed worse cognitive performance after EMF exposure compared to the control condition, a statistically significant difference. This suggests that even brief exposure to cell phone-type radiation can measurably impair mental processing abilities.
Why This Matters
This pilot study adds to growing evidence that EMF exposure affects brain function in measurable ways. What makes this research particularly relevant is that it used GSM standard fields - the same type of pulsed radiation your cell phone emits. The fact that 82% of participants showed cognitive decline after just 50 minutes of exposure should give us pause about our constant connectivity. The science demonstrates that EMF exposure isn't just about heating tissue, as industry often claims. These cognitive effects occur at levels well below thermal thresholds, suggesting biological mechanisms we're only beginning to understand. The researchers' specific recommendation to restrict cell phone use for vulnerable populations like children and elderly people reflects the precautionary principle that health agencies worldwide continue to ignore.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Study Details
Here, using a psycho–physiological test paradigm, we examined effects of exposure to pulsed electromagnetic fields on cognitive performance.
In 11 volunteers, we tested cognitive processing under field exposure (GSM standard) and under field...
We found that nine of the 11 test participants (81.8%) showed worse results in their auditory discri...
We could show that the participants’ cognitive performance was impaired after exposure to pulsed electromagnetic fields. With regard to this finding, we recommend that the use of cellular phones should be restricted generally and in particular in respect of physical hazard of high-risk groups, e.g. elderly, children and ill people.
Show BibTeX
@article{r_2004_effects_of_pulsed_electromagnetic_2407,
author = {Maier R and Greter SE and Maier N},
title = {Effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields on cognitive processes - a pilot study on pulsed field interference with cognitive regeneration.},
year = {2004},
doi = {10.1111/j.1600-0404.2004.00260.x},
url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1600-0404.2004.00260.x},
}