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In these studies, a wireless telephone was strapped to the left ear. The emitted EMF was 916.2 MHz, pulsed with a frequency of 217 Hz and a pulse width of 577 microsecs. This amount of RF exposure is similar to the RF exposure from a cellphone. In the first study, 16 men performed one finger-tapping task and one visual response task. With the finger-tapping task, exposure to the EMF had no effect on the EEG or in the performance of the task. No difference was observed in the performance of the visual response of task, but differences did appear in the slow brain waves on the EEG, especially on the right side of the brain (i.e. the opposite side from the EMF). Thirteen
men participated in the second study, and performed an auditory discrimination
task the detection of different sounds while being exposed to EMF.
Differences from their control state were seen on the EEG when the men
were exposed to the EMF, but on this occasion the main effects were on
the left side of the brain. The discrepancies in these results suggest
the need for further study. In the third study, two sets of experiments were done six months apart. Twenty young men participated in the first set, and 19 in the second. Three tasks were performed - a complex visual monitoring task (VMT), a finger tapping task, and a task that involved the presentation of a warning stimulus, followed by a secondary stimulus that required a response by the subject. EEGs were recorded during these tasks. The subjects were exposed to EMF, or not exposed, in random order, and they were unaware of the presence or absence of EMF. There was no significant difference in the performance of the tasks during exposure, compared with non-exposure. Slow brain potentials on EEGs at some regions of the brain were decreased during VMT, in both sets of experiments. The changes were seen on both sides of the brain but were more pronounced on the right. No significant EEG changes were seen during the other two tasks. The authors stress that the results "do not allow any conclusions to be drawn concerning human well-being and health."
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