Effects of electromagnetic fields emitted by cellular phones on the electroencephalogram during a visual working memory task.

Krause CM, Sillanmaki L, Koivisto M, Haggqvist A, Saarela C, Revonsuo A, Laine M, Hamalainen H,

Int J Radiat Biol 76(12):1659-1667, 2000

PURPOSE: To examine the effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) emitted by cellular phones on the event-related desynchronization/synchronization (ERD/ERS) responses of the 4-6, 6-8, 8-10 and 10-12Hz EEG frequency bands during cognitive processing.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four subjects performed a visual sequential letter task (n-back task) with three different working memory load conditions: zero, one and two items. All subjects performed the memory task both with and without exposure to a digital 902 MHz EMF in counterbalanced order.

RESULTS: The presence of EMF altered the ERD/ERS responses in the 6-8 and 8-10 Hz frequency bands but only when examined as a function of memory load and depending also on whether the presented stimulus was a target or not.

CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the exposure to EMF modulates the responses of EEG oscillatory activity approximately 8 Hz specifically during cognitive processes.