ID Number		1246
Study Type		Human / Provocation
Model		900 and 1800 MHz (CW) exposure to volunteers and analysis of EEG and cognitive memory performance.
Details		Human volunteers (9 men, 10 women) were exposed to 900 MHz (CW) RF from a dipole antenna affixed to the subject's right ear (at 64 mW transmitted power from a dipole antenna) and analyzed for cognitive function, memory and EEG effects. Sham exposures (in random order with exposure) were also performed as self-controls. EEG was recorded as each subject performed an auditory test for working memory (number memorization and recall ability). RF exposure resulted in significant decreases in energy at 8 EEG electrode sites in males, and significant increases in energy at 4 EEG electrode sites in females. There was no statistically significant effect on working memory performance (although a trend towards decreased performance in men and increased performance in women). In a subsequent study using similar exposure and testing models, the authors reported specific changes (increase with low frequency stimuli and decrease with high frequency stimuli) in the P50 component of the auditory evoked potential during an auditory working memory test in volunteers (n = 19), although again no effect on working memory performance was reported. The authors conclude mobile phone RF can affect pre-attentive information processing in the central nervous system. In a 2008 study, the authors tested additional subjects (n = 19 men, 20 women) exposed as above to either 900 MHz (CW) at 64 mW or 1800 MHz (CW) at 128 mW and evaluated for EEG changes during a standard working memory test (Wechsler Auditory Test). The authors again report changes in theta, alpha, and beta bands during exposure, and this change was also different between men and women. AUTHORS' ABSTRACT: Papageorgiou et al. 2011 (IEEE #6179): The P300 component of event-related potentials (ERPs) is believed to index attention and working memory (WM) operation of the brain. The present study focused on the possible gender-related effects of Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) electromagnetic fields (EMF) on these processes. Fifteen male and fifteen female subjects, matched for age and education level, were investigated while performing a modified version of the Hayling Sentence Completion test adjusted to induce WM. ERPs were recorded at 30 scalp electrodes, both without and with the exposure to a Wi-Fi signal. P300 amplitude values at 18 electrodes were found to be significantly lower in the response inhibition condition than in the response initiation and baseline conditions. Independent of the above effect, within the response inhibition condition there was also a significant gender X radiation interaction effect manifested at 15 leads by decreased P300 amplitudes of males in comparison to female subjects only at the presence of EMF. In conclusion, the present findings suggest that Wi-Fi exposure may exert gender-related alterations on neural activity associated with the amount of attentional resources engaged during a linguistic test adjusted to induce WM. AUTHORS' ABSTRACT: Maganioti et al. 2010 (IEEE #6262): The aim of the present study was to examine the patterns of activation of the P600 waveform of the event-related potentials (ERP), applying principal component analysis (PCA) and repeated measures ANOVA, and whether these patterns are RF and gender dependent. The ERPs of thirty-nine healthy subjects (20 male and 19 female) were recorded during an auditory memory task in the presence and absence of RF, similar to that emitted by mobile phones. Both PCA and ANOVA produced congruent results, showing that activation of the P600 component occurs early and more intensely in the region of the posterior electrodes and in a less intense manner in the central electrodes. Conversely, the activation at the anterior electrodes arises later with a considerably reduced intensity. In the absence of RF female subjects exhibited significantly lower amplitudes at anterior electrodes and earlier latencies at central electrodes than male subjects. These differences disappear in the presence of RF. Consequently, the P600 component follows distinct patterns of activation in the anterior, central and posterior brain areas and gender differences are observed simultaneously at several electrodes within these areas. Finally, the gender-related functional architecture with regard the P600 component appears to be RF sensitive. In conclusion, the application of the PCA procedure provides an adequate model of the spatially distributed event-related dynamics that correspond to the P600 waveform. AUTHORS' ABSTRACT: Nanou et al. 2005 (IEEE #6327): The effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) emitted by cellular phones on human electroencephalogram (EEG) were studied during an auditory memory task. The experimental method and the experimental setup are introduced as a credible measurement method of EEG. 19 normal subjects (10 women and 9 men) performed the memory task both with and without exposure to a 900 MHz signal, emitted by a dipole antenna placed near the subjects' head. The energy of the EEG signals was calculated at the time domain. A Fourier transform of the EEG signals was done and the EEG energy was also calculated at the frequency domain. As the Parseval's theorem anticipates the energies were identical. The EEG energy was found concentrated at the four basic bands (± (813 Hz), ²(1430 Hz), ´ (04 Hz) and ¸(57 Hz)). The primary concern of the present study was the gender related influence of EMF on the spectral energy of EEG. The results show evidence of a strong genderradiation interaction effect on the EEG energy and on the peak amplitudes within each of the four rhythms. Without radiation the spectral power of males is greater than of females, while under exposure the situation is reversed. Under the influence of EMF the spectral power of the males EEG is decreased while that of the females is increased. In conclusion both the baseline EEG and the changes effected to the EEG power spectrum under the influence of EMF seem to be gender dependent.
Findings		Effects
Status		Completed With Publication
Principal Investigator		University of Athens, Greece
Funding Agency		Private/Instit.
Country		GREECE
References		Nanou, E et al. The Environmentalist, (2009) 29:205-209 Hountala, CD et al. Neurosci Lett, (2008) 441:188-192 Papageorgiou, CC et al. Neurosci Lett, (2006) 397:99-103 Papageorgiou , CC et al. Neuroreport. , (2004) 15:2557-2560 Papageorgiou, CC et al. J Integr Neurosci., (2011) 10:189-202 Maganioti, AE et al. Neurosci Lett., (2010) 478:19-23 Nanou, E et al. Environmentalist. , (2005) 25:173-179 Maganioti, AE et al. 6th International Workshop on Biological Effects of Electromagnetic fields. , (2010) :-
Comments		No SAR in either study (same exposure and similar study design), just a power measurement from the antenna. Although RF exposure in the first study resulted in decreased EEG in men and increased EEG in women, the control levels started out with men having higher EEG energy than women, so after the RF exposure results were compared, there was essentially no difference between men and women