Brains React to Cell Phones, Concern is Apparent

The parents in the play area at a local Parker, Colo., Burger King were doing their best to pay attention to their children while talking on their cell phones and trying to eat something. When questions of whether or not the cell phones they are using could be affecting their brains were brought up the mood changed. Adults grew concerned about the effects of a device most have grown to love. 

The Concern...

So what does all this mean? Scientists aren’t really sure yet. Knowing the brain reacts to the cell phone antenna does pose some concerns with the public though.

“It kind of freaks me out, I’m not going to lie,” said Nikki Arnold, a working mother in Parker, “I really hope more studies are done to try and figure out what effects they are having on us because I use my cell a ton.”

“I use Bluetooth in my car because I’ve heard the effects of cell phones can be bad,” said Kelly Martin, a stay-at-home mother of two in Parker.

Martin was also concerned as to why more money wasn’t being spent to research the effects on the brain when so much of our tax money is spent on bailing out banks and car manufacturers. “It doesn’t ease my mind knowing there is a study and they don’t really know what the results mean,” Martin said.

The Study...

Forty-seven healthy participants were used in the study to find if the radiofrequency from cell phone antennas caused a reaction in the brain of the participants. During the study a cell phone was placed on the left and right ear of the subjects. The left ear phone was powered off and the right phone was on and receiving data from a pre-recorded message. The volume of the phone on the right ear was turned off so the activity of the brain was not influenced by the subject hearing the message. A 7 percent increase in brain glucose metabolism (a way for doctors to measure brain activity) was seen in the area directly around the antenna of the cell phone; however, the overall brain activity did not increase.

This isn’t the first time this topic has been brought up. Over the years the majority of scientific evidence shows there is no added risk.

It Doesn't Slow People Down 

“I’m not as concerned because I use a Bluetooth headset,” said Mike Ford, a dentist and father of two also living in Parker: “Not because of the brain activity but because it hurts my neck to hold the phone all the time. Now I’m glad I do though since no one really knows the effects.”

Knowing the possibility of cell phones affecting the brain doesn’t seem to change people picking them up but it does raise a lot of concern as to the health implications these beloved devices may cause.