A new study published February 23 in the Journal of the American Medical Association reports that that holding a cell phone to your ear for a sustained period of time does cause temporary changes to your brain, though it’s unclear whether the impact is good, bad or neutral. The study, led by the National Institutes of Health, is among the first to show that cell phones alter brain metabolism.
A new study published February 23 in the Journal of the American Medical Association reports that that holding a cell phone to your ear for a sustained period of time does cause temporary changes to your brain, though it's unclear whether the impact is good, bad or neutral.
The study, led by the National Institutes of Health, is among the first to show that cell phones alter brain metabolism. Researchers followed 47 healthy volunteers who underwent two brain scans. During one scan, a cell phone connected to a muted call was attached to participants' right ear; during the other, they were phone-free. When the phone was turned on, participants experienced a 7 percent increase in the rate of glucose (sugar) metabolism—an indicator of brain activity—in the regions closest to the cell phone antenna.
According to study author Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, "This study shows that the human brain is sensitive to electromagnetic radiation coming out of cell phones. Our finding does not tell us if this is harmful or not." Clearly, more research is needed to understand the potential health effects of cell phone use. And this study does nothing to clarify possible connections between cell phone use and increased risk of brain cancer – a hotly topic in many scientific and advocacy circles.
To check out the study brief, click here