Medical/biological Study (experimental study)

Short-term exposure to mobile phone base station signals does not affect cognitive functioning or physiological measures in individuals who report sensitivity to electromagnetic fields and controls. med./biol.

PubMed Entry

Journal web site

Aim of study (according to author)
To investigate whether short-term exposure to GSM and UMTS base station signals affects attention, memory and physiological components in 44 electrosensitive and 44 control participants.
Background/further details:
The participants performed four testing sessions (at least one week apart from each other): a) baseline measurement before exposure, b) exposure to GSM, c) exposure to UMTS and d) sham exposure.
Cognitive functioning was measured using a digit symbol substitution test (given a table displaying the correspondence between pairs of digits [from 1 to 9] and symbols, subjects have to fill in blank squares with the symbol that is paired with the digit displayed above the square; subjects have to fill in as many squares as possible in 90 sec), a digit span test and mental arithmetic tasks (5 sec to complete addition and subtraction equations; 187 trials).

Endpoints

• cognitive/behavioral endpoints: cognitive functioning: short-term memory, attention and perceptual motor speed, working memory
• others: blood volume pulse, heart rate, skin conductance

Exposure
General category: mobile communication system, cell phone base station, GSM, UMTS

Field characteristics	Parameters
field 1: 900 - 1800 MHz exposure duration: continuous for 50 min	power flux density: 10 mW/m²
field 2: 2020 MHz exposure duration: continuous for 50 min	power flux density: 10 mW/m²

Exposed system:
human
whole body exposure

Methods
Endpoint/Measurement parameters/Methodology

• effects on cardiovascular system: blood volume pulse, heart rate
• cognitive/behavioral endpoints: cognitive functioning: short-term memory (digit span test: percentage of correct scores); attention and perceptual motor speed (digit symbol substitution test: number of symbols correctly completed); working memory (mental arithmetic task: percentage of correct scores)
• hypersensitivity/subjective complaints: subjective well-being (VAS) and symptoms under exposure; judgement whether fields were "on" or "off"
• others: skin conductance

Main outcome of study (according to author)
Both groups did not differ significantly in their cognitive performance on the baseline measurements. Cognitive functioning was not affected by short-term exposure to either GSM or UMTS signals in control participants and electrosensitive participants.
Electrosensitive participants had a significantly higher level of skin conductance than control participants while performing the cognitive tasks (independent of exposure condition). Blood volume pulse and heart rate did not differ between the two groups nor were they affected by the type of exposure. .

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

Study funded by

• Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research (MTHR), UK

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