Regular predictive texting, not radiation, affects the brain power of mobile phone using young people, say Australian experts.
Epidemiologist Professor Michael Abramson of Monash University and colleagues report their findings online ahead of print publication in the journal Bioelectromagnetics.
"We suspect that using mobile phones a lot, particularly things like predictive texts for SMS is training kids to be fast but inaccurate," says Abramson.
Experts concerned about the possible impact of mobile phone radiation on developing brains have recommended children be cautious in their use of the devices.
"Their brains are still developing so if there are effects - and particularly given that the exposure is now almost universal - then potentially it could have effects down the line," says Abramson.
But he says actual evidence on the health effects of mobile phones has been inconclusive, and few studies have been done in children in real life situations.
Study
In one of the first studies of its kind, Abramson and colleagues analysed the cognitive capacities and mobile phone use of 317 children aged between 11 and 14.
In the Mobile Radiofrequency Phone Exposed Users' Study (MoRPhEUS) children were asked how many times they used the phone to speak or SMS each week.
A quarter of the children made more than 15 voice calls a week and a quarter of them made more than 20 text messages a week, says Abramson.
The researchers then tested the young people's response times and accuracy in carrying out certain tasks using a battery of computer tests.
After adjusting for factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, socio-economic status and handedness, the researchers were able to detect a consistent relationship between mobile phone use and brain power.
"The kids who used their phones a lot were faster on some of the tests, but were also less accurate," says Abramson.
Texting points finger
Abramson says the findings were the same regardless of whether the children were making phone calls or texting.
He says given the amount of radiation transmitted when texting is 0.03% that transmitted during voice calls, which suggests radiation is not to blame for the brain effects.
"We don't think that the mobile phones are frying their brains," says Abramson.
He says repeated predictive texting is likely to be training the young people to act fast without thinking, not caring about accuracy.
"If you're used to operating in that environment and entering a couple of letters and getting the word you want, you expect to be like that," says Abramson.
Abramson says one limitation of the study is the small control group.
He says the researchers were surprised to find that 94% of kids studied were using a mobile phone and 77% had their own phone.
"We were hoping we'd have a sizeable comparison or control group that didn't use phones."
They now plan to re-do the study with primary school students.
Abramson says the large international Interphone study has found no link between mobile phones and brain tumours.
He says the phones sold in Australia must past strict safety standards so they do not heat the ear or brain inside the head.
The study was supported by the NHMRC and conducted in association with the Australian Centre for RF Bioeffects Research.
Abramson says a colleague is setting up a new study on the link between mobile phone use and the developement of brain tumours in young people.
Scientific debate
Science and Technology Studies expert Associate Professor David Mercer of the University of Wollongong, who studies the mobile phone controversy, says scientific debate continues over whether radiofrequency effects cause health risks.
He says research by Swedish oncologist Lennart Hardell has consistently found risks associated with mobile phones, but these findings are debated.
Mercer says current safety standards in Australia do not take into account subtle radiation effects, which do not involve heating.
source
I will only agree with this when they say kids do this too much while classes are going on.
Epidemiologist Professor Michael Abramson of Monash University and colleagues report their findings online ahead of print publication in the journal Bioelectromagnetics.
"We suspect that using mobile phones a lot, particularly things like predictive texts for SMS is training kids to be fast but inaccurate," says Abramson.
Experts concerned about the possible impact of mobile phone radiation on developing brains have recommended children be cautious in their use of the devices.
"Their brains are still developing so if there are effects - and particularly given that the exposure is now almost universal - then potentially it could have effects down the line," says Abramson.
But he says actual evidence on the health effects of mobile phones has been inconclusive, and few studies have been done in children in real life situations.
Study
In one of the first studies of its kind, Abramson and colleagues analysed the cognitive capacities and mobile phone use of 317 children aged between 11 and 14.
In the Mobile Radiofrequency Phone Exposed Users' Study (MoRPhEUS) children were asked how many times they used the phone to speak or SMS each week.
A quarter of the children made more than 15 voice calls a week and a quarter of them made more than 20 text messages a week, says Abramson.
The researchers then tested the young people's response times and accuracy in carrying out certain tasks using a battery of computer tests.
After adjusting for factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, socio-economic status and handedness, the researchers were able to detect a consistent relationship between mobile phone use and brain power.
"The kids who used their phones a lot were faster on some of the tests, but were also less accurate," says Abramson.
Texting points finger
Abramson says the findings were the same regardless of whether the children were making phone calls or texting.
He says given the amount of radiation transmitted when texting is 0.03% that transmitted during voice calls, which suggests radiation is not to blame for the brain effects.
"We don't think that the mobile phones are frying their brains," says Abramson.
He says repeated predictive texting is likely to be training the young people to act fast without thinking, not caring about accuracy.
"If you're used to operating in that environment and entering a couple of letters and getting the word you want, you expect to be like that," says Abramson.
Abramson says one limitation of the study is the small control group.
He says the researchers were surprised to find that 94% of kids studied were using a mobile phone and 77% had their own phone.
"We were hoping we'd have a sizeable comparison or control group that didn't use phones."
They now plan to re-do the study with primary school students.
Abramson says the large international Interphone study has found no link between mobile phones and brain tumours.
He says the phones sold in Australia must past strict safety standards so they do not heat the ear or brain inside the head.
The study was supported by the NHMRC and conducted in association with the Australian Centre for RF Bioeffects Research.
Abramson says a colleague is setting up a new study on the link between mobile phone use and the developement of brain tumours in young people.
Scientific debate
Science and Technology Studies expert Associate Professor David Mercer of the University of Wollongong, who studies the mobile phone controversy, says scientific debate continues over whether radiofrequency effects cause health risks.
He says research by Swedish oncologist Lennart Hardell has consistently found risks associated with mobile phones, but these findings are debated.
Mercer says current safety standards in Australia do not take into account subtle radiation effects, which do not involve heating.
source
I will only agree with this when they say kids do this too much while classes are going on.
