Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Short-term effects of GSM mobiles phones on spectral components of the human electroencephalogram med./bio.

By: Maby E, Le Bouquin Jeannes R, Faucon G

Published in: 2006 International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, New York, NY, USA. IEEE, 2006: 3751-3754; ISBN 978-1-4244-0032-4

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Aim of study (acc. to author)

This in vivo study was performed to investigate whether GSM signals affect the electrical activity of the human brain.

Background/further details

Nine healthy subjects and six epileptic patients participated. Each participant was exposed and sham-exposed.

Endpoint

effects on the neurological system: brain activity

Exposure

- mobile communications
- digital mobile phone
- GSM

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: continuous for 250 s?	-

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	900 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 250 s?
Additional info	GSM frequency range probably used

Modulation

Modulation type	pulsed
Additional info	GSM

Exposure setup

Exposure source	cellular phone
Setup	The EEG activity was recorded for 250 s per phase using a 32 electrode helmet.
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.
Additional info	The experimental session consisted of two sequential recording phases: 1) no RF emission and 2) maximum power emission. The control session consisted of the same two phases but without emission in any phase.

Parameters

No parameters are specified for this exposure.

Additional parameter details

maximum power

Exposed system:

human

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

effects on the neurological system: brain activity (EEG, power spectral density)

Investigated system:

investigation on living organism

Investigated organ system:

brain/CNS

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Under radiofrequency irradiation the spectral arrangement of the EEG activity was altered for healthy subjects as well as epileptic patients. For the healthy subjects, a significant decrease of the EEG signal was observed for all frequency bands and more precisely on occipital electrodes for the alpha wave. For the epileptic patients, it was the opposite since the GSM exposure produced an increase of EEG signal energy in all frequency bands and without any local difference.
These results suggest that GSM mobile phones may have a biological effect on EEG signals.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

Ministère délégué à l'Enseignement supérieur et à la Recherche (Ministry of National Education and Research), France

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