EMF-Portal | Psychomotor performance is not influenced by brief repeated exposures to mobile phones

Psychomotor performance is not influenced by brief repeated exposures to mobile phones med./bio.

By: Curcio G, Valentini E, Moroni F, Ferrara M, De Gennaro L, Bertini M

Published in: Bioelectromagnetics 2008; 29 (3): 237-241

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the presence of a cumulative effect of brief and repeated exposures (3 X 15 min.) to a GSM mobile phone on psychomotor functions.

Background/further details

24 subjects participated.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 902.4 MHz Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: intermittent, 10 min off/15 min on, for 85 min	power: 2 W peak value power: 0.25 W mean SAR: 0.5 W/kg maximum (10 g) (at the temporal lobe)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	902.4 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	intermittent, 10 min off/15 min on, for 85 min

Modulation

Modulation type	pulsed
Repetition frequency	217 Hz
Additional info	basic GSM signal with modulation components of 8.33 and 217 Hz

Exposure setup

Exposure source	cellular phone
Distance between exposed object and exposure source	1.5 cm
Chamber	The subjects sat on an armchair at a distance of 70 cm in front of a loudspeaker inside a shielded, soundproof and temperature-controlled room.
Setup	The mobile phone was held by a helmet in the normal use position (antenna oriented to the temporoparietal area) at 1.5 cm from the right ear tragus. An identical phone, but without battery, was placed on the left side of the helmet to balance the weight.
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.
Additional info	Each participant attended two experimental sessions, one week apart, providing either real or sham exposure in counterbalanced order and following a double-blind paradigm. Each session lasting 85 min comprised four 10-min phases of data collecting (T0-baseline, T1, T2, T3) and between them, three 15-min phases of real or sham exposure.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
power	2 W	peak value	-	-	-
power	0.25 W	mean	-	-	-
SAR	0.5 W/kg	maximum	measured	10 g	at the temporal lobe

Measurement and calculation details

SAR distribution was measured using a calibrated commercial isotropic EF sensor positioned by an automatic three-dimensional scanning system inside homogeneous anthropomorphic head-shaped and cube-shaped (20 x 20 x 20 cm³) phantoms [Guelfi et al., 1997; Lovisolo et al., 2001] both filled with a semi-liquid material electromagnetically equivalent to brain tissue. The absolute uncertainty of SAR measurements was within 20%.

Reference articles

Lovisolo GA et al. (2001): Dosimetric techniques for the evaluation of the em power absorption induced by cellular phones
Guelfi M et al. (1997): Dosimetric Procedures for Compliance Tests of Mobile Communication Devices

Exposed system:

human
partial body: head (right ear)

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:

investigation on living organism

Investigated organ system:

brain/CNS

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The data showed no cumulative effects of brief and repeated electromagnetic field exposure on human psychomotor performance, although there was a non-statistical trend to shorter reaction times. In conclusion, these findings show an absence of effects with these particular exposure conditions.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study
Brief Communication
double-blind study

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

Mortazavi SM et al. (2012): Human short-term exposure to electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phones decreases computer-assisted visual reaction time

Regel SJ et al. (2007): Pulsed radio frequency radiation affects cognitive performance and the waking electroencephalogram

Russo R et al. (2006): Does acute exposure to mobile phones affect human attention?

Keetley V et al. (2006): Neuropsychological sequelae of digital mobile phone exposure in humans

Cook CM et al. (2006): Exposure to ELF magnetic and ELF-modulated radiofrequency fields: the time course of physiological and cognitive effects observed in recent studies (2001-2005)

Terao Y et al. (2006): Effects of thirty-minute mobile phone use on visuo-motor reaction time

Besset A et al. (2005): No effect on cognitive function from daily mobile phone use

Curcio G et al. (2004): Time-course of electromagnetic field effects on human performance and tympanic temperature

Edelstyn N et al. (2002): The acute effects of exposure to the electromagnetic field emitted by mobile phones on human attention

Koivisto M et al. (2000): Effects of 902 MHz electromagnetic field emitted by cellular telephones on response times in humans