Acute mobile phones exposure affects frontal cortex hemodynamics as evidenced by functional near-infrared spectroscopy

Giuseppe Curcio*, Michele Ferrara, Tania Limongi, Daniela Tempesta, Gabriele Di Sante, Luigi De Gennaro, Valentina Quaresima, Marco Ferrari

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate by functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), the effects induced by an acute exposure (40mins) to a GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) signal emitted by a mobile phone (MP) on the oxygenation of the frontal cortex. Eleven healthy volunteers underwent two sessions (Real and Sham exposure) after a crossover, randomized, double-blind paradigm. The whole procedure lasted 60mins: 10-mins baseline (Bsl), 40-mins (Exposure), and 10-mins recovery (Post-Exp). Together with frontal hemodynamics, heart rate, objective and subjective vigilance, and self-evaluation of subjective symptoms were also assessed. The fNIRS results showed a slight influence of the GSM signal on frontal cortex, with a linear increase in HHb as a function of time in the Real exposure condition (F4,402.67; P0.04). No other measure showed any GSM exposure-dependent changes. These results suggest that fNIRS is a convenient tool for safely and noninvasively investigating the cortical activation in MP exposure experimental settings. Given the short-term effects observed in this study, the results should be confirmed on a larger sample size and using a multichannel instrument that allows the investigation of a wider portion of the frontal cortex.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)903-910
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism
Volume29
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2009
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Cerebral circulation
  • Electromagnetic fields
  • GSM
  • Human
  • Near-infrared spectroscopy
  • Radio frequency

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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