Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Mobile-phone pulse triggers evoked potentials med./bio.

By: Carrubba S, Frilot 2nd C, Chesson Jr AL, Marino AA

Published in: Neurosci Lett 2010; 469 (1): 164-168

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study whether a low frequency pulse of the type produced by mobile phones was capable of triggering evoked potentials in 20 volunteers.

Background/further details

Following an acclimation period, there were two experimental periods during which either a fieId or a sham exposure was presented. The order of exposure/sham exposure varied randomly from subject to subject.

Endpoint

effects on the neurological system: pulse-induced evoked potentials

Exposure

- electric field
- magnetic field
- signals/pulses
- mobile communications
- mobile phone

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 217 Hz Modulation type: single pulse Exposure duration: 80 trials of 3 s - 0.7 ms on - 2.9993 s off	magnetic flux density: 3 µT (reference value - at 10 cm from the phone) electric field strength: 100 V/m (unpertubed field without a head between the plates)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	217 Hz
Type	electric field
Exposure duration	80 trials of 3 s - 0.7 ms on - 2.9993 s off

Modulation

Modulation type	single pulse
Pulse width	0.7 ms

Exposure setup

Exposure source	two metal plates, 65 cm apart, located at both sides of the subject's head
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
magnetic flux density	3 µT	-	-	-	reference value - at 10 cm from the phone
electric field strength	100 V/m	-	-	-	unpertubed field without a head between the plates

Reference articles

Marino AA et al. (2009): Evidence that transduction of electromagnetic field is mediated by a force receptor
Carrubba S et al. (2009): The electric field is a sufficient physical determinant of the human magnetic sense

Exposed system:

human
whole body

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

effects on the neurological system: pulse-induced evoked potentials (latency and duration; EEG)

Investigated system:

investigation on living organism

Investigated organ system:

brain/CNS

Time of investigation:

before exposure
during exposure
after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

A pulse of the type produced by mobile phones was transduced by 90% of the subjects, as indicated by the occurrence of evoked potentials. The implication of the data is that mobile phones trigger evoked potentials at the frequency of 217 Hz during ordinary cell phone use.
The authors conclude that chronic production of the changes in brain activity might be pertinent to the reports of health hazards among mobile phone users.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

Carrubba S et al. (2009): The electric field is a sufficient physical determinant of the human magnetic sense
de Tommaso M et al. (2009): Mobile phones exposure induces changes of contingent negative variation in humans
Marino AA et al. (2009): The Effects of Mobile-Phone Electromagnetic Fields on Brain Electrical Activity: A Critical Analysis of the Literature
Carrubba S et al. (2008): Magnetosensory evoked potentials: consistent nonlinear phenomena
Kleinlogel H et al. (2008): Effects of weak mobile phone - electromagnetic fields (GSM, UMTS) on event related potentials and cognitive functions
Hountala CD et al. (2008): The spectral power coherence of the EEG under different EMF conditions
Stefanics G et al. (2008): Effects of twenty-minute 3G mobile phone irradiation on event related potential components and early gamma synchronization in auditory oddball paradigm
Valentini E et al. (2007): Neurophysiological effects of mobile phone electromagnetic fields on humans: a comprehensive review
Carrubba S et al. (2007): Nonlinear EEG activation evoked by low-strength low-frequency magnetic fields
Papageorgiou CC et al. (2006): Acute mobile phone effects on pre-attentive operation
Hamblin DL et al. (2006): The sensitivity of human event-related potentials and reaction time to mobile phone emitted electromagnetic fields
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)
Carrubba S et al. (2006): Detection of nonlinear event-related potentials