Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/201719

Title

Individual differences in the effects of mobile phone exposure on human sleep: rethinking the problem

Author(s)

Loughran, Sarah P.;  McKenzie, Raymond J.;  Jackson, Melinda L.;  Howard, Mark E.;  Croft, Rodney J.

Abstract

Mobile phone exposure-related effects on the human electroencephalogram (EEG) have been shown during both waking and sleep states, albeit with slight differences in the frequency affected. This discrepancy, combined with studies that failed to find effects, has led many to conclude that no consistent effects exist. We hypothesised that these differences might partly be due to individual variability in response, and that mobile phone emissions may in fact have large but differential effects on human brain activity. Twenty volunteers from our previous study underwent an adaptation night followed by two experimental nights in which they were randomly exposed to two conditions (Active and Sham), followed by a full-night sleep episode. The EEG spectral power was increased in the sleep spindle frequency range in the first 30min of non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) sleep following Active exposure. This increase was more prominent in the participants that showed an increase in the original study. These results confirm previous findings of mobile phone-like emissions affecting the EEG during non-REM sleep. Importantly, this low-level effect was also shown to be sensitive to individual variability. Furthermore, this indicates that previous negative results are not strong evidence for a lack of an effect and, given the far-reaching implications of mobile phone research, we may need to rethink the interpretation of results and the manner in which research is conducted in this field. Bioelectromagnetics.

Publication type

Journal article

Research centre

Swinburne University of Technology. Faculty of Life and Social Sciences. Brain Sciences Institute

Source

Bioelectromagnetics, Vol. 33, no. 1 (Jan 2012), pp. 86-93

Publication year

2012

FOR Code(s)

06 Biological Sciences;  09 Engineering

Keyword(s)

Electroencephalogram;  EEG;  Mobile phone exposure;  Mobile phones;  Non-REM sleep;  Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields;  Sleep;  Spectral analysis

Publisher

Wiley-Liss

ISSN

0197-8462

Publisher URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/bem.20691

Copyright

Copyright © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Research Projects

Australian Centre for Radiofrequency Bioeffects Research (ACRBR), National Health and Medical Research Council grant number 264439

Peer reviewed