Cellphone radiation can make nearby areas of the brain more excitable, according to a study carried out by Italian researchers.

The scientists say their study suggests that people with conditions related to brain excitability, such as epilepsy, could be adversely affected by cellphone use. Other experts, however, question whether the radiation generated is powerful enough to have any ill effect.

A team led by Paolo Rossini at Fatebenefratelli Hospital in Milan tested the effect of cellphone radiation on brain activity in 15 healthy male volunteers.

Each volunteer made two visits to the researcher's laboratory, where a GSM phone was attached to the side of their head for 45 minutes. During one of the two sessions the phone was switched on, although the volunteers were not told when this was.

Brain response
The excitability of each volunteer's brain was measured using trans-cranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Two brief magnetic pulses, each lasting less than a millisecond, were sent to the motor cortex of the brain.

These pulses stimulate brain activity and can reveal sensitivity to normal brain signals. The strength of the brain's response can be measured by monitoring electrical activity in the hand muscles.

The researchers found that areas of the motor cortex closest to the cellphone were more responsive to TMS when the phone was switched on. They conclude that cellphone radiation makes nearby brain regions more excitable.

The researchers even go so far as to suggest cellphone use could affect conditions related to over-excitability in the brain, such as epilepsy.

But other experts remain more cautious. "I believe they have found an effect but interpreting the results is tricky," says Vincent Walsh, a neuroscientist at University College London, UK, who routinely uses TMS to study brain function. Walsh says it remains to be seen how other areas of the brain respond and whether the change actually affects brain function.

Negative results
Zenon Sienkiewicz, a radiation expert at the UK government's Health Protection Agency, says the Italian study is interesting, but must be confirmed. "As scientists we look for research that can be consistently replicated," he says. "With research into the cognitive effects of phones, attempts at replication almost always come up negative."

Sienkiewicz cites a study carried out by researchers from Bristol University, UK, in 1999. This suggested that cellphone radiation could improve users' reaction times, although the results have never been successfully replicated.

Sienkiewicz also points out that a major report commissioned by the UK government and published in 2003 found no evidence that phones pose a risk to health. Unless such evidence emerges, Sienkiewicz says cellphone users should rest easy.

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Thanks Spiral..

wow, if that's the case, we should be using telegrams again!!! it more safer!!!

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Its an ongoing debate. We need to have sizeable data before we conclude something

Nothing was really proven on the dangerosity of Cellphone radiation

well, we dont have much studies to prove whether cellphone radiation is dangerous
how many of us have problems that came due to mobile usage?
I know prolonged usage will badly affect our ears (temporarly)