Medical/biological Study (experimental study)

Effects of mobile phone signals over BOLD response while performing a cognitive task. med./biol.

PubMed Entry

Journal web site

Aim of study (according to author)
To study the effects of an exposure to a GSM signal on brain BOLD (blood-oxygen-level dependent) response, as well as its time course while performing a reaction time task.
Background/further details:
12 young men participated (age range: 19-25) and underwent two sessions separated by one week (exposure/sham exposure session).

Endpoints

• effects on the neurological system: brain BOLD (blood-oxygen-level dependent) response
• cognitive/behavioral endpoints: somatosensory reaction time task

Exposure
General category: mobile communication system, digital mobile phone, GSM, PW (pulsed wave)

Field characteristics	Parameters
902.4 MHz pulsed (PW) exposure duration: continuous for 45 min	power: 2 W peak value power: 0.25 W average over time SAR: 1.25 W/kg (at superficial level) SAR: 0.5 W/kg max value (at 2 cm depth in a phantom) SAR: 0.212 W/kg min value (at 5 cm depth in a phantom)

Exposed system:
human
partial body exposure: right ear

Methods
Endpoint/Measurement parameters/Methodology

• effects on the neurological system: brain BOLD (blood-oxygen-level dependent) response (fMRI)
• cognitive/behavioral endpoints: somatosensory reaction time task (go/no-go task: reaction (pressing a button) to electrical stimulations (single or paired electrical pulses) delivered to the median nerve of both wrists)

Main outcome of study (according to author)
The data did not detect any brain activity changes by mobile phones. Also reaction times in the somatosensory task were not affected.
In conclusion, no changes in BOLD response have been observed as a consequence of radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure.

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

Study funded by

• Lottomatica, Italy
• Monopoli di Stato, Italy

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