• experimental
  
• epidemiological
  

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Medical/biological Study (experimental study)

Effects of short- and long-term pulsed radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on night sleep and cognitive functions in healthy subjects. med./biol.

PubMed Entry

Journal web site

Aim of study (according to author)
To study whether the electromagnetic field emitted by mobile phones affects sleep measures or learning and memory consolidation in healthy subjects after one and six consecutive days of exposure.
Background/further details:
20 healthy young male participants were included (10 for sham exposure) and nocturnal sleep was recorded during eight consecutive nights. In the second, third, and last night, polysomnographic night sleep and cognitive functions were investigated. After the adaptation and baseline nights (first and second night), the subjects were exposed to a radiofrequency electromagnetic field during the following six nights.

Endpoint

• sleep: night sleep

Exposure
General category: digital mobile phone, GSM

Field characteristics	Parameters
900 MHz pulsed (PW) exposure duration: repeated daily exposure, 7 to 9 h, for 6 nights	power: 28.5 W peak value SAR: 1 W/kg max value SAR: 875 mW/kg average over mass (1 g) SAR: 24 mW/kg average over mass (whole body)

Exposed system:
human
partial body exposure: head

Methods
Endpoint/Measurement parameters/Methodology

• cognitive/behavioural endpoints: cognitive function (neuropsychological tests on attention, learning, memory)
• sleep: night sleep (polysomnography (EEG, EOG, EMG); sleep onset latency, sleep efficiency, REM sleep characteristics, etc.; correlation dimension; power spectrum)
• others: questionnaire about wellbeing and subjective sleep quality

Main outcome of study (according to author)
The data showed no significant effects on night sleep parameters or on cognitive functions. The authors were unable to reveal either short-term (after one night exposure) or cumulative long-term effects (after six night exposure) of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on night sleep and cognitive functions.

(Study character: medical/biological study, experimental study, full/main study, blind study)

Study funded by

• Forschungsgemeinschaft Funk e.V. (FGF) (Research Association for Radio Applications), Germany

• Erratum by  Fritzer G, Goder R, Friege L, Wachter J, Hansen V, Hinze-Selch D, Aldenhoff JB

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