Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Does the use of mobile phones affect human short-term memory or attention? med./bio.

Published in: Appl Cognit Psychol 2008; 22 (8): 1113-1125

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To assess the effect of exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields generated by GSM and CW mobile phones on short-term memory and attention.

Background/further details

Two samples of participants (experiment 1: n=160 [116 women]; experiment 2: n=168 [112 women]) were exposed to CW signal and GSM signal while they were performing six cognitive tasks. In each experiment half of the participants were exposed to CW signal and the other half to GSM signal. In a separate session, they performed the same tasks under sham exposure.
Half of the participants were tested with the mobile phone on their left ear, and half had the phone on the right ear, to investigate laterality effects.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 888 MHz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: continuous for 45 min (experiment 1) or 40 min (experiment 2)
  • SAR: 1.4 W/kg average over time
  • SAR: 11.2 W/kg peak value
Exposure 2: 888 MHz
Modulation type: CW
Exposure duration: continuous for 45 min (experiment 1) or 40 min (experiment 2)
  • SAR: 1.4 W/kg average over time

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 888 MHz
Type
Exposure duration continuous for 45 min (experiment 1) or 40 min (experiment 2)
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Additional info

GSM modulation

Exposure setup
Exposure source
Setup mobile phone fixed to the subject's head so that the microphone was close to the mouth and the antenna touching or very close to the head
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 1.4 W/kg average over time - - -
SAR 11.2 W/kg peak value - - -

Exposure 2

Main characteristics
Frequency 888 MHz
Type
Exposure duration continuous for 45 min (experiment 1) or 40 min (experiment 2)
Modulation
Modulation type CW
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 1.4 W/kg average over time - - -

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Investigated organ system:
Time of investigation:
  • during exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Participant's performance was not significantly affected by radiofrequency exposure in any of the six tasks in either the low or high cognitive load conditions (varied by task difficulty), whether they were exposed to GSM or CW signals and whether the phone was on the left or right side of the head.

Study character:

Study funded by

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