[The effect of microwave radiation emitted by mobile phones on human short term memory]

ABSTRACT

The widespread use of cell phones has made the researchers focus on its health effects. However, the biological effects of electromagnetic fields have not been clearly known. This study was performed to determine the effect of microwave radiation emitted by mobile phones on the human short term memory. This interventional study has been performed on 70 male sets who were studying at Rafsanjani University of Medical sciences [RUMS] in 2006. Participants were divided into two groups. The First group which included 25 students whose short term memory was tested by using Wechsler test. Ten minute real/sham exposure intervals to microwave radiations emitted from a mobile phone were performed at 0 h [sham], 24 h [real] and 48 h [sham] and the participants were tested using 5 Wechsler subsets immediately after each real/sham exposure. The second group included 45 males were exposed/ sham exposed to microwave radiation at 0 h [real], 24 h [sham]. Data were statistically analyzed using student's t test. The means of memory scores in both groups were increased in the next day. This clearly shows the role of learning in these tests. No statistical relationship was found between exposure to the microwave radiation and memory scores. Overall the data could not show a significant effect of the mobile phone on short term memory. Repeating the memory tests after 24, 48 h clearly increased the scores in both groups. These findings confirm the role of learning in memory tests and lack of any link to cell phone use