Medical/biological study (observational study)

Effect on human attention of exposure to the electromagnetic field emitted by mobile phones med./bio.

By: Lee TM, Ho SM, Tsang LY, Yang SH, Li LS, Chan CC, Yang SY

Published in: NeuroReport 2001; 12 (4): 729-731

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the effect of exposure to the electromagnetic field emitted by mobile phones on human attention.

Background/further details

72 teenagers were investigated, 37 of whom were mobile phone users (median use: 3712.50 minutes). Thus, a comparison of attention functioning between mobile phone and non-mobile phone users was possible.

Endpoint

cognitive/behavioral endpoints: cognitive function

Exposure

- mobile communications
- GSM
- not extractable

No exposure details are available.

Exposed system:

human

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

cognitive/behavioral endpoints: cognitive function (three different measures (Symbol Digit Modalities Test; Stroop Test; Trail Making Test)
questionnaire about demographic information, medical histories, and patterns of mobile phone use (average duration of use/day x number of days that the phone system was installed)

Investigated system:

investigation on living organism

Investigated organ system:

brain/CNS

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The data showed that the mobile phone users performed better on one of the three measures of attention than did the non-mobile phone users. The findings indicate that exposure to the electromagnetic field emitted by mobile phones may have a mild facilitating effect on attention functions.

Study character:

medical/biological study
observational study
full/main study
blind study

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

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