Mobile phone emission modulates event-related desynchronization of alpha rhythms and cognitive–motor performance in healthy humans

ObjectivesIt has been shown that electromagnetic fields of Global System for Mobile Communications phone (GSM-EMFs) affect human brain rhythms (Vecchio et al., 2007 and Vecchio et al., 2010), but it is not yet clear whether these effects are related to alterations of cognitive functions.MethodsEleven healthy adults underwent two electroencephalographic (EEG) sessions separated by 1 week, following a cross-over, placebo-controlled, double-blind paradigm. In both sessions, they performed a visual go/no-go task before real exposure to GSM-EMFs or after a sham condition with no EMF exposure. In the GSM real session, temporal cortex was continuously exposed to GSM-EMFs for 45 min. In the sham session, the subjects were not aware that the EMFs had been switched off for the duration of the experiment. In the go/no-go task, a central fixation stimulus was followed by a green (50% of probability) or red visual stimulus. Subjects had to press the mouse button after the green stimuli (go trials). With reference to a baseline period, power decrease of low- (about 8–10 Hz) and high-frequency (about 10–12 Hz) alpha rhythms indexed the cortical activity.ResultsIt was found less power decrease of widely distributed high-frequency alpha rhythms and faster reaction time to go stimuli in the post- than pre-exposure period of the GSM session. No effect was found in the sham session.ConclusionsThese results suggest that the peak amplitude of alpha ERD and the reaction time to the go stimuli are modulated by the effect of the GSM-EMFs on the cortical activity.SignificanceExposure to GSM-EMFs for 45 min may enhance human cortical neural efficiency and simple cognitive–motor processes in healthy adults.

► EMFs of GSM phone affect human brain rhythms, not yet clearly related to cognitive functions.
► EEG were recorded during a visual go/no-go before and after real or sham exposure of 45 min.
► Power decrease of high-frequency alpha rhythms (less cortical activation) after real exposure.
► Faster reaction time to go stimuli in the post- than pre-exposure period of the real GSM session.