Table 2.
RF EMF effects on cognitive performance in studies with a between-group design.
| Study | RF EMF Exposure | Experimental Design | Cognitive Task(s) | Results | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parameters [Modulation ()] |
Side | Duration (min) |
Sample | Handedness | Blinding | No | Duration (min) |
Practice | Time point |
||||
| Bessett et al. 2005 [47] |
900 MHz (217 Hz), 576 μs pulse width, SAR = 0.54 W/kg |
L+R | 120/day (5days per week, 4 weeks) |
EG: 14 M, 14 F |
CG: 13 M, 14 F |
R (47) L (8) |
DB | 22 | ~120 | - | B, D, A |
n.s. | |
| Edelstyn & Oldershaw 2002 [29] |
900 MHz, SAR = 1.19 W/kg |
L | 30 | EG: 19 |
CG: 19 |
R | SB | 6 | ~8 | - | B, A | After 15 min exposure: | |
| ↑ Verbal memory capacity (Digit Span Forwards) |
|||||||||||||
| ↓ Visuospatial working memory capacity (Spatial Span Backwards) |
|||||||||||||
| ↑ Sustained attention/↓ processing speed (Serial Subtraction) |
|||||||||||||
| Fritzer et al. 2007 [43] |
900 MHz (2, 8, 217, 1736 Hz), SAR = 24 mW/kg (whole body) |
T | 405- 525/night (6 nights) |
EG: 10 M |
CG: 10 M |
- | - | 7 | - | - | B, A | n.s. | |
| Lass et al. 2002 [33] |
450 MHz (7 Hz), 50% duty cycle, 1 W output power SAR = 0.0095 W/kg |
R | 10-20 | EG: 50 |
CG: 50 |
- | SB | 3 | 10-20 | - | D | ↑ Variances of errors (Modified Trail Making Test B) |
|
| ↓ Errors (Visual Short Term Memory Task) |
|||||||||||||
| ↑ Variances of errors (Symbol Digit Modality Test) |
|||||||||||||
| Lee et al. 2003 [28] |
1900 MHz (Nokia 3210) |
R | 30 | EG: 39 |
CG: 39 |
R | SB | 3 | ~25 (repeated twice) |
- | D | ↓ RT (Sustained Attention To Response Task) |
|
| Luria et al. 2009 [32] |
890.2 MHz, 577 μs pulse width, 2 W peak power (Nokia 5110) |
L+R | ~60 | EG1 16 M |
EG2 16 M |
CG 16 M |
R | SB | 1 | ~5 (repeated 12 times) |
✓ | D | ↑ RT with right hand (left side exposure, 1st two blocks, Spatial Item Recognition Task) |
| Smythe & Costall 2003 [34] |
1800 MHz, SAR = 0.79 W/kg (Ericsson A2618s) |
L | 15 | EG1 8 M 9 F |
EG2 15 M 11 F |
EG3 10 M 9 F |
R | SB | 1 | 3 | - | D | ↑ Spatial accuracy in males (Spatial Word Recall Task) |
| Wiholm et al. 2009 [35] |
884 MHz (GSM), psSAR10 g = 1.4 W/kg (time-averaged) |
L | 150 | EG1: 23 9 M 14 F |
EG2: 19 12 M 7 F |
- | DB | 1 | - | - | B, A | ↓ Distance traveled in Virtual Morris Water Task (EG1) |
|
RF EMF Exposure: (ps) SAR: (peak spatial) specific absorption rate; L: left side exposure; R: right side exposure; L+R: left and right side exposure; T: exposure of top of head; GSM: Global System for Mobile Communications
Experimental Design: EG: Experimental group; CG: Control group; M: males; F: females; Handedness: R: right handed, L: left handed; SB: single blind; DB: double blind
Cognitive Tasks: No: number of tasks applied; B: task applied before exposure; D: task applied during exposure; A: task applied after exposure; RT: reaction times
Results: ↑: significant increase; ↓: significant decrease; n.s.: no significant effect (compared to sham)
✓: accomplished; - not accomplished/specified