Abstract

Overview

The increase in mobile phone usage has raised concerns about potential physiological and psychological effects on human health, particularly in terms of cognitive functions and brain morphology.

Findings

• A study involving 60 healthy female medical students aged 18-25 years explored the effects of EMF exposure from mobile phones on brain structure and cognitive performance.
• Participants were divided into low and high exposure groups based on the duration of daily mobile phone use.
• MRI and neuropsychological tests (including spectroscopic analysis of brain metabolites) revealed no significant differences in hippocampal volume or specific brain metabolites between the two groups.
• However, significant differences in cognitive performances related to attention, as measured by Stroop and digit span (backward) tests, were observed, with the high exposure group showing poorer performance.

Conclusion

While there is no observed alteration in hippocampal volume or levels of specific metabolites, prolonged usage of mobile phones is linked to declines in attention and concentration abilities. These results underline important considerations for public health and warrant further research.