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 language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 903-910 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism |
Volume | 29 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 2009 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Cerebral circulation
- Electromagnetic fields
- GSM
- Human
- Near-infrared spectroscopy
- Radio frequency
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Neurology
- Clinical Neurology
- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine