Study: Cell Phones 'Excite' the Brain

Italian researchers have released data that seems to indicate that cell phone emissions do "excite" the brain, however it's not clear if they do any damage. While the phone is in use, the area of the cortex nearest to the phone does show changes, but returns to normal within an hour.

Researchers at the Fatebenefratelli hospital in Milan, Italy performed the test on 15 young males, who made a 45-minute call on a GSM phone operating in the 900 MHz band, a common mobile frequency in Europe. In a dozen participants, a change in brain activity in the cortex was noted.

While it did not seem to be bad for the brain, researchers said it could be for those with diseases that are linked to excitability in the brain such as epilepsy. To make such a determination, further study on the subject was recommended.

Cell phone studies have become a point of contention and much disagreement within the medical community. In January, the London-based Institute of Cancer Research and three British universities said there was no increased risk of brain tumors from cell phone use, but a study two months later disputed that.

The subject of cancer and cell phones is seen as an increasingly important issue given that nearly 2 billion people around the world use them. However, it is not clear if a definitive answer will be available any time soon.

The Italian study has been published in the Annals of Neurology.