title: A meta-analysis for neurobehavioural effects due to electromagnetic field exposure emitted by GSM mobile phones.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Numerous studies have investigated the potential effects of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) emitted by GSM mobile phones ( approximately 900 MHz to approximately 1800 MHz) on cognitive functioning, but results have been equivocal. In order to try and clarify this issue, the current study carried out a meta-analysis on 19 experimental studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Meta-analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen studies were taken into consideration. Ten of them were included in the meta-analysis as they fulfilled several minimum requirements; for example, single-blind or double-blind experimental study design and documentation of means and standard deviation of the dependent variables. The meta-analysis compared exposed with non-exposed subjects assuming that there is a common population effect so that one single effect size could be calculated. When homogeneity for single effect sizes was not given, an own population effect for each study and a distribution of population effects was assumed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Attention measured by the subtraction task seems to be affected in regard to decreased reaction time. Working memory measured by the N-back test seems to be affected too: under condition 0-back target response time is lower under exposure, while under condition 2-back target response time increases. The number of errors under condition 2-back non-targets appears to be higher under exposure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of the meta-analysis suggest that EMFs may have a small impact on human attention and working memory.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Management Science, Division Ergonomics and Organization, Vienna University of Technology, Theresianumgasse 27, A-1040 Vienna, Austria. barth@imw.tuwien.ac.at
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barth
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Winker
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ponocny-Seliger
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mayrhofer
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ponocny
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sauter
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vana
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D040421:Cell Phone; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008606:Mental Processes / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000528:radiation effects*