Abstract

Overview

The study investigates the acute effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) emitted by communication devices like GSM900 mobile phones and TETRA handheld devices on the central nervous system (CNS) of older women.

Findings

• Exposure Details: Participants were exposed to different RF-EMF signals including sham, GSM900, and TETRA, specific to conditions around sleep and cognitive functions.
• Sleep Impact: RF-EMF exposure notably impacts sleep architecture and EEG power spectra, particularly in higher frequency bands; however, the impact is considered to consolidate sleep rather than disturb it according to the spindle analysis and macrostructural changes.
• Cognitive Effects: While basic alertness levels show negligible changes post-exposure, slight physiological variations suggest modifications in cognitive processing efficiencies under specific exposures, evidenced by metrics like Contingent Negative Variation and P300.

Conclusion

The study indicates different physiological responses in elderly women to RF-EMF exposure compared to younger male groups, hinting at potential age and gender-specific differences. Although slight physiological changes were noted, these did not largely translate into substantive changes in behavior or clinical symptoms.