The Effects of Mobile-Phone Electromagnetic Fields on Brain Electrical Activity: A Critical Analysis of the Literature

Abstract

We analyzed the reports in which human brain electrical activity was compared between the presence and absence of radio-frequency and low-frequency electromagnetic fields (EMFs) from mobile phones, or between pre- and post-exposure to the EMFs. Of 55 reports, 37 claimed and 18 denied an EMF-induced effect on either the baseline electro encephalogram (EEG), or on cognitive processing of visual or auditory stimuli as reflected in changes in event-related potentials. The positive reports did not adequately consider the family-wise error rate, the presence of spike artifacts in the EEG, or the confounding role of the two different EMFs. The negative reports contained neither positive controls nor power analyses. Almost all reports were based on the incorrect assumption that the brain was in equilibrium with its surroundings. Overall, the doubt regarding the existence of reproducible mobile-phone EMFs on brain activity created by the reports appeared to legitimate the knowledge claims of the mobile-phone industry. However, it funded, partly or wholly, at least 87% of the reports. From an analysis of their cognitive framework, the common use of disclaimers, the absence of information concerning conflicts of interest, and the industry's donations to the principal EMF journal, we inferred that the doubt was manufactured by the industry. The crucial scientific question of the pathophysiology of mobile-phone EMFs as reflected in measurements of brain electrical activity remains unanswered, and essentially unaddressed.

Effects of mobile phone electromagnetic fields on brain waves in healthy volunteers

“…In this paper we dealt with the criticism that was raised in the past, that the application of pulsed RF would lead to artefacts in the EEG and that the spectral energy of these spikes can be folded into the EEG recording, thus erroneously suggesting an EMF effect in the brain 18 . In the phantom experiment we showed that this is not the case.…”

“…A common criticism directed towards previous EMF studies is the complexity of the employed statistical methods. Marino et al 18 even suggest that ‘many claims result from the use of data-mining to make meaning from the data’. In this work we perform a statistical analysis using a Bayesian approach to counteract this criticism.…”

Interference of mobile phones with electrophysiology and emotions

“…The research field is broad since several areas are explored, ranging from carcinogenesis and infertility to basic effects on physiological parameters. In general, results are conflicting and inconclusive (86)(87)(88)(89). While a number of studies demonstrate influence of radiation on health, others cannot replicate these findings.…”

“…Apart from these methodological aspects, it has been suggested that source of funding might influence the results (63). It has been shown that 87% of brain activity studies are sponsored by the mobile phone industry (87). Although this does not necessarily imply that the results of these articles are biased, the issue of conflict of interest cannot be neglected.…”

“…It remains uncertain to what degree mobile phone radiation impacts brain activity. Several conflicting results have been published (121,122), and an increase in power of the alpha frequency band in response to an active mobile phone was reported recurrently (42-45, 92, 94, 105, 113). We recently investigated possible direct effects of mobile phone radiation on electrocortical activity (123,124).…”