Gender related differences on the EEG during a simulated mobile phone signal

Abstract

The present study investigated the gender-related influence of electromagnetic fields (EMF), similar to that emitted by mobile phones, on brain activity. Ten women and nine men performed a short memory task (Wechsler test), both without (baseline) and with exposure to a 900 MHz signal. The EEG energy of the total waveform and the alpha, beta, delta and theta; rhythms were calculated from the recordings of 15 scalp electrodes. Baseline EEG energy of males was greater than that of females, while exposure to EMF decreased EEG energy of males and increased that of females. Memory performance was invariant to EMF exposure and gender influences. These findings indicate that EMF may exert a gender-related nfluence on brain activity.

Exposure to ELF magnetic and ELF‐modulated radiofrequency fields: The time course of physiological and cognitive effects observed in recent studies (2001–2005)

“…This variable may also interact with the sex of the subject, as there are known differences in laterality between males and females. Two studies within this review [Smythe and Costall, 2003;Papageorgiou et al, 2004] found that sex interacted significantly with EMF exposure in both performance and EEG measures. Whether these observations are related to true sex differences remains to be verified.…”

“…This observation, although not universally reported, is noted over several electrophysiological studies [Huber et al, 2002[Huber et al, , 2003[Huber et al, , 2005Hamblin et al, 2004;Hinrichs and Heinze, 2004;Curcio et al, 2005]. Immediate effects of mobile phone exposure were seen in several studies [Croft et al, 2002;D'Costa et al, 2003;Krause et al, 2004;Papageorgiou et al, 2004]. Interestingly, no EEG or ERP studies reported null effects.…”

“…Significantly higher alpha (8-13 Hz) and beta (13-32 Hz) activity was found in the active exposed condition compared to sham over the central and occipital regions. Papageorgiou et al [2004] assessed EEG changes during a memory test in response to a 900 MHz EMF (mean power 64 mW). Nineteen subjects were randomly exposed to both sham and exposure conditions (right hemisphere only) both of which were " alpha activity (8-12 Hz); # delta activity (1-4 Hz); # in theta (4-8 Hz) and beta (12-30 Hz) during discrimination task Huber et al [2002] 900 MHz (217 Hz); 30 min LH exposure " alpha activity (8-13 Hz) Huber et al [2002] 900 MHz (217 Hz); 30 min LH exposure " rCBF over the dorsolateral frontal (Brodmann areas 6, 9, 10, 44), parietal (Brodmann areas 2, 40) and # rCBF over the right posterior cerebellum Huber et al [2003] 900 MHz (2, 8, 217 Hz); 15 min LH and RH exposure " alpha activity (9-14 Hz) D'Costa et al [2003] 900 MHz (217 Hz); midline exposure " alpha activity (8-13 Hz); " beta activity (13-32 Hz) Hamblin et al [2004] 894.6 MHz (217 Hz); RH exposure # N100 amplitude; # N100 and P300 latencies over midline electrodes Hinrichs and Heinze [2004] 1800 MHz (217 Hz); 30 min LH exposure # in event related magnetic fields amplitude in 300-500 ms time window Krause et al [2004] 902 MHz (217 Hz); 30 min LH exposure # in event related synchronization of theta activity (4-7 Hz) Papageorgiou et al [2004] 900 MHz, (217 Hz); 45 min RH exposure # overall EEG energy in male subjects; " overall EEG energy in female subjects Curcio et al [2005] 902.4 MHz (217 Hz); 45 min LH exposure " central and parietal alpha activity (8-13 Hz) Huber et al [2005] 900 MHz, (217 Hz); 30 min LH exposure " rCBF over the dorsolateral frontal (Brodmann areas 6, 9, 10, 44), parietal (Brodmann areas 2, 40) # rCBF over the right posterior cerebellum Loughran et al [2005] 894.6 MHz (217 Hz); 30 min RH exposure " central alpha activity (8-13 Hz)…”

Neurophysiological effects of mobile phone electromagnetic fields on humans: A comprehensive review

“…Moreover, the study by Hietanen et al [2000] did not satisfy criteria (c) and (d). Furthermore, Papageorgiou et al [2004] failed to meet criteria (a), (c) and (d) whereas in their subsequent study [Papageorgiou et al, 2006] criteria (a) and (c) were not satisfied. Two studies did not satisfy any of the inclusive criteria [Kramarenko and Tan, 2003;Monnery et al, 2004].…”

Pulsed and continuous wave mobile phone exposure over left versus right hemisphere: Effects on human cognitive function

“…Russo et al reported no statistically significant differences between performances under CW versus PM exposure. Electroencephalogram (EEG) studies, on the other hand, have exposed either the left [Kramarenko and Tan, 2003;Krause et al, 2004], the right [Krause et al, 2000a,b;Papageorgiou et al, 2004], or both hemispheres [Reiser et al, 1995;Mann and Röschke, 1996;Röschke and Mann, 1997] to EMF, thus raising the question of possible differences in the EMF effects under left or right hemispheric exposure. All in all, there is a considerable variation in the results of the quoted studies.…”