Abstract
Recent neurophysiological studies indicate that exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) generated by mobile phone radiation can exert effects on brain activity. One technical solution to reduce effects of EMFs in mobile phone use is provided in mobile phone chips that are applied to mobile phones or attached to their surfaces. To date, there are no systematical studies on the effects of mobile phone chip application on brain activity and the underlying neural mechanisms. The present study investigated whether mobile phone chips that are applied to mobile phones reduce effects of EMFs emitted by mobile phone radiation on electroencephalographic (EEG) brain activity in a laboratory study. Thirty participants volunteered in the present study. Experimental conditions (mobile phone chip, placebo chip, no chip) were set up in a randomized within-subjects design. Spontaneous EEG was recorded before and after mobile phone exposure for two 2-min sequences at resting conditions. During mobile phone exposure, spontaneous EEG was recorded for 30 min during resting conditions, and 5 min during performance of an attention test (d2-R). Results showed increased activity in the theta, alpha, beta and gamma bands during EMF exposure in the placebo and no chip conditions. Application of the mobile phone chip reduced effects of EMFs on EEG brain activity and attentional performance significantly. Attentional performance level was maintained regarding number of edited characters. Further, a dipole analysis revealed different underlying activation patterns in the chip condition compared to the placebo chip and no chip conditions. Finally, a correlational analysis for the EEG frequency bands and electromagnetic high-frequency (HF) emission showed significant correlations in the placebo chip and no chip condition for the theta, alpha, beta, and gamma bands. In the chip condition, a significant correlation of HF with the theta and alpha bands, but not with the beta and gamma bands was shown. We hypothesize that a reduction of EEG beta and gamma activation constitutes the key neural mechanism in mobile phone chip use that supports the brain to a degree in maintaining its natural activity and performance level during mobile phone use.
Highlights
Neurophysiological studies indicate that exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) generated by mobile phone radiation can exert effects on brain activity
This study investigated the effects of a mobile phone chip, a placebo chip that used the same raw material as the mobile phone chip, and a control without any chip applied on a smart phone on brain activity under resting conditions, and during an attention test when exposed to EMFs induced by mobile phone radiation
Post-hoc tests with Bonferronicorrection revealed significant differences between pretest and mobile phone exposure under resting conditions, p = 0.02, and pretest and mobile phone exposition during the attention test, p = 0.01
Summary
Neurophysiological studies indicate that exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) generated by mobile phone radiation can exert effects on brain activity. Alpha activity was significantly reduced under EMF exposure (Perentos et al, 2013). Several studies have shown an increase in alpha-1 and alpha-2 activity in non-REM sleep stages under EMF exposure (Borbély et al, 1999; Huber et al, 2000). Sleep dependent learning processes, such as optimizing motoric skills can be negatively affected by EMF exposure. A significant reduction in motoric skills after a night’s sleep under EMF exposure was recorded compared to the control group (Lustenberger et al, 2013). Reduced synaptic plasticity and impaired consolidation by shifting the brain activity have been discussed as the possible mediators for these negative effects of EMF exposure during sleep
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