Epidemiological study (observational study)

Electroencephalographic, personality, and executive function measures associated with frequent mobile phone use epidem.

By: Arns M, Van Luijtelaar G, Sumich A, Hamilton R, Gordon E

Published in: Int J Neurosci 2007; 117 (9): 1341-1360

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The association between frequent mobile phone use, brain function, and personality was investigated in a pilot study.

Further details

The study participants were divided in three equally sized groups according the extent of mobile phone use based on the measure recent usage intensity: naive group (no mobile phone use), intermediate user group, and heavy user group.
All subjects participated in personality, electroencephalographic, and neuropsychological assessments.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

brain function, neuropsychological performance, and personality

Exposure

- mobile communications
- digital mobile phone
- personal

Assessment

questionnaire: number of mobile phone calls per day, duration of calls, daily use, years of use
calculation: recent usage intensity (number of mobile phone calls per day x duration of calls x daily use)

Exposure groups

Group	Description
Reference group 1	naive mobile phone users
Group 2	intermediate mobile phone users
Group 3	heavy mobile phone users

Population

Group:
- men
- women
Characteristics: right-handed healthy individuals
Observation period: not given
Study location: USA (laboratories in New York and Rhode Island), The Netherlands (Nijmegen), UK (London), Australia (Adelaide and Sydney)
Data source: Brain Resource International Database
Exclusion criteria: personal or family history of mental illness, brain injury, neurological disorder, serious medical condition, drug/alcohol addiction, family history of genetic disorder

Study size

Type	Value
Total	300

Statistical analysis method:

ANOVA

Results (acc. to author)

The average duration of mobile phone use was 2.4 years among heavy users and 1.8 years among intermediate users.
The findings suggest a subtle slowing of brain activity within normal physiological ranges related to mobile phone use. A relationship between mobile phone use and enhanced executive function was observed. No conclusions can be drawn with respect to adverse health effects or whether these effects reflect an adaptive brain response.

Limitations (acc. to author)

The questionnaire concerning mobile phone use has not been fully validated and gives only a crude indication.

Study funded by

Bial Foundation, Portugal

Mohan M et al. (2016): Does chronic exposure to mobile phones affect cognition?
Ng TP et al. (2012): Long-term digital mobile phone use and cognitive decline in the elderly
Krause CM et al. (2007): Effects of pulsed and continuous wave 902 MHz mobile phone exposure on brain oscillatory activity during cognitive processing
Krause CM et al. (2004): Effects of electromagnetic field emitted by cellular phones on the EEG during an auditory memory task: a double blind replication study
Haarala C et al. (2003): Effect of a 902 MHz electromagnetic field emitted by mobile phones on human cognitive function: A replication study
Lee TM et al. (2003): The effect of the duration of exposure to the electromagnetic field emitted by mobile phones on human attention
Lee TM et al. (2001): Effect on human attention of exposure to the electromagnetic field emitted by mobile phones
Lebedeva NN et al. (2001): Investigation of brain potentials in sleeping humans exposed to the electromagnetic field of mobile phones
Koivisto M et al. (2000): Effects of 902 MHz electromagnetic field emitted by cellular telephones on response times in humans
Koivisto M et al. (2000): The effects of electromagnetic field emitted by GSM phones on working memory
Wagner P et al. (2000): Human sleep EEG under the influence of pulsed radio frequency electromagnetic fields. Results from polysomnographies using submaximal high power flux densities
Roschke J et al. (1997): No short-term effects of digital mobile radio telephone on the awake human electroencephalogram