Mobile phone effects on children's event-related oscillatory EEG during an auditory memory task.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) emitted by mobile phones (MP) on the 1 - 20 Hz event-related brain oscillatory EEG (electroencephalogram) responses in children performing an auditory memory task (encoding and recognition).


METHODS
EEG data were gathered while 15 subjects (age 10 - 14 years) performed an auditory memory task both with and without exposure to a digital 902 MHz MP in counterbalanced order.


RESULTS
During memory encoding, the active MP modulated the event-related desynchronization/synchronization (ERD/ERS) responses in the approximately 4 - 8 Hz EEG frequencies. During recognition, the active MP transformed these brain oscillatory responses in the approximately 4 - 8 Hz and approximately 15 Hz frequencies.


CONCLUSIONS
The current findings suggest that EMF emitted by mobile phones has effects on brain oscillatory responses during cognitive processing in children.
Krause
Christina M
CM
Cognitive Science Unit, Department of Psychology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki. Finland. christina.krause@helsinki@helsinki.fi
Björnberg
Christian Haarala
CH
Pesonen
Mirka
M
Hulten
Annika
A
Liesivuori
Tiia
T
Koivisto
Mika
M
Revonsuo
Antti
A
Laine
Matti
M
Hämäläinen
Heikki
H
D000293:Adolescent; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D040421:Cell Phone; D003071:Cognition / Q000528:radiation effects*; D003344:Cortical Synchronization / Q000528:radiation effects; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D008568:Memory / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology