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Cognitive effects of radiation emitted by cellular phones: The influence of exposure side and time

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Luria R, Eliyahu I, Hareuveny R, Margaliot M, Meiran N. · 2009

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Cell phone radiation measurably slows brain reaction times within minutes, with effects varying by which side of your head is exposed.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers had 48 men perform memory tasks while exposed to cell phone radiation on different sides of their heads. Left-side phone exposure significantly slowed right-hand reaction times during early testing, demonstrating that cell phone radiation can measurably affect brain function and cognitive performance.

Why This Matters

This study provides compelling evidence that cell phone radiation produces measurable changes in brain function within minutes of exposure. The fact that effects varied by exposure side and timing helps explain why some studies fail to detect cognitive impacts while others do. What makes this research particularly significant is that it used standard GSM phones at typical usage levels, meaning these cognitive effects occur during normal phone conversations. The science demonstrates that your brain's electrical activity responds to radiofrequency radiation in ways that can slow your reaction time and potentially affect other cognitive processes. This adds to a growing body of evidence showing that EMF exposure isn't just about long-term cancer risks, but immediate functional changes in how your brain operates.

Exposure Information

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. The study examined exposure from: GSM phones

Study Details

This study examined the time dependence effects of exposure to radiofrequency radiation (RFR) emitted by standard GSM cellular phones on the cognitive functions of humans.

A total of 48 healthy right‐handed male subjects performed a spatial working memory task (that requi...

It was found that the average RT of the right‐hand responses under left‐side exposure condition was ...

Cite This Study
Luria R, Eliyahu I, Hareuveny R, Margaliot M, Meiran N. (2009). Cognitive effects of radiation emitted by cellular phones: The influence of exposure side and time Bioelectromagnetics. 30(3):198-204, 2009.
Show BibTeX
@article{r_2009_cognitive_effects_of_radiation_1510,
  author = {Luria R and Eliyahu I and Hareuveny R and Margaliot M and Meiran N.},
  title = {Cognitive effects of radiation emitted by cellular phones: The influence of exposure side and time},
  year = {2009},
  doi = {10.1002/bem.20458},
  url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/bem.20458},
}
DOI: 10.1002/bem.20458

Cited By (76 papers)

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Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, according to a 2009 study by Luria and colleagues. When 48 men held phones on their left side, their right-hand reaction times became significantly slower during memory tasks. This demonstrates that phone placement can measurably impact brain-to-hand coordination and cognitive performance.
Research shows cell phone radiation can slow hand reaction times. In testing with 48 men, left-side phone exposure significantly delayed right-hand responses during cognitive tasks. The effect was most pronounced during early exposure periods, suggesting immediate impacts on motor coordination.
According to Luria's 2009 research, exposure duration, responding hand, and phone placement all influence whether radiation effects are detectable. Studies that don't control for these specific parameters may miss measurable cognitive impacts, explaining inconsistent results across different research.
Cell phone radiation can affect brain performance within the first exposure periods. Luria's study found significant reaction time changes during the first two testing blocks when phones were held on the left side, indicating rapid onset of measurable cognitive effects.
Yes, GSM radiation appears to affect brain hemispheres differently. When phones were held on the left side, only right-hand reaction times slowed significantly, suggesting the radiation primarily impacted the left brain hemisphere that controls right-hand movements and cognitive processing.