The effect of electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phones on human sleep.
Loughran SP, Wood AW, Barton JM, Croft RJ, Thompson B, Stough C. · 2005
View Original AbstractMobile phone exposure for just 30 minutes before sleep measurably alters brain wave patterns and sleep architecture.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed 50 people to electromagnetic fields from mobile phones for 30 minutes before bedtime and monitored their sleep patterns. They found that phone exposure shortened the time it took to enter REM (dream) sleep and altered brain wave activity during the first part of sleep. This suggests that using your phone before bed can directly change how your brain functions during sleep.
Why This Matters
This research adds to a growing body of evidence that EMF exposure from mobile phones affects our most fundamental biological process: sleep. The fact that just 30 minutes of exposure could measurably alter sleep architecture and brain wave patterns demonstrates how sensitive our nervous systems are to these fields. What makes this study particularly significant is that it shows effects on REM sleep latency, which is crucial for memory consolidation and cognitive function. While the researchers don't specify exact exposure levels, typical mobile phone use involves similar or higher exposures for longer durations. The reality is that millions of people sleep with phones nearby or use them right before bed, potentially disrupting their sleep quality night after night.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. The study examined exposure from: 11.5-12.25 Hz Duration: 30 minutes
Study Details
We examined whether aspects of sleep architecture show sensitivity to electromagnetic fields emitted by digital mobile phone handsets.
Fifty participants were exposed to electromagnetic fields for 30 min prior to sleep.
Results showed a decrease in rapid eye movement sleep latency and increased electroencephalogram spe...
These results are evidence that mobile phone exposure prior to sleep may promote rapid eye movement sleep and modify the sleep electroencephalogram in the first non-rapid eye movement sleep period.
Show BibTeX
@article{sp_2005_the_effect_of_electromagnetic_2380,
author = {Loughran SP and Wood AW and Barton JM and Croft RJ and Thompson B and Stough C.},
title = {The effect of electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phones on human sleep.},
year = {2005},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16272890/},
}