Making a phone call can affect the memory of young people

The rapid development of information and communication technologies has led to increased exposure to high frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) in everyday life. The most important source of exposure to the brain is the use of a mobile phone near the head. However, studies that analyze the health effects of RF-EMF have not yet been conclusive.

Device use and brain position in young adults

The study, published on July 23, revealed that cumulative brain HF-EMF exposure to mobile phones for a year can have a negative impact on the development of memory of the figure in adolescents. Thus, it confirms the results of 2015. Figurative memory is mainly localized in the right brain, and the influence of RF-EMF was more pronounced in teenagers who also used their cell phone on the right side of the head. "This indicates that the electromagnetic radiation absorbed by the brain is responsible for the observed relationships," said Martin Röösli, Head of Environment and Health Unit of the Swiss TPH

Other Aspects of Wireless Communication, such as the Sending text messages, surfing the Internet causes only a low exposure to brain radiation and shows no connection with the development of memory. "A unique feature of this study is the use of user data collected objectively from mobile operators," says Röösli. He stressed, however, that additional research is needed to rule out the influence of other factors. "For example, the results of the study may have been influenced by puberty, which affects both cellular use and participant behavior and cognitive abilities."

Data provided by the study Health Effects Teens (HERMES) have studied the relationship between exposure to RF electromagnetic fields and the memory development of nearly 700 adolescents over a period of one year. Participants aged 12 to 17 were recruited from public schools (grades 7 to 9) in urban and rural areas of German-speaking Switzerland.