Background: The ubiquitous use of mobile phones has raised concerns about potential health impacts, particularly regarding the effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) on the human brain and heart. Heart rate variability (HRV) is a critical measure of heart health, influenced by brain function and susceptible to disruption by mobile phone radiation. Objective: This study aims to investigate the influence of mobile phone EMF on HRV, utilizing higher-order spectral analysis of ECG data to determine the functional relationship between the heart and brain under EMF exposure. Methods: Twenty healthy subjects from the University of Sindh, Jamshoro, participated in this experiment. The subjects, with an average age of 27 years, underwent ECG and EEG recording under varying conditions of EMF exposure. Each session involved comparisons of EMF effects over different durations and positions relative to the heart. Results: Statistically significant differences were observed in bicoherence values for chest positions V1 and V2, with non-EMF trials showing higher values compared to EMF trials. Coherence between ECG and EEG indicated significant changes in the 16-30 Hz frequency band during EMF exposure. Extended exposure of 40 minutes correlated with notable variations in HRV. Conclusion: The findings suggest that mobile phone EMF can significantly affect HRV parameters, particularly with prolonged exposure and when the EMF source is close to the heart. These results underscore the importance of developing guidelines for safe mobile phone usage.
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