Mobile phone radiation and brain rhythm in epileptic patients / Noha Abdalla Farag Elsawy ; Supervised Saly Elkholy , Radwa Azmy , Eman Maher

Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Neurophysiology

Background We have been dazzled by technology of cell phones over past 2 decades, with exponential increase in number of cell phone users around the world. Cell phone radiofrequency output power is absorbed in our brains. Children, pregnant women and epileptics are at possible risk. Objective The aim of this study was to assess the effect of exposure to a 30- minute call, using a 3G smart phone on the functions of the central nervous system (CNS), by means of P300, visual analysis of digital EEG and QEEG in healthy adults and epileptic patients. Patients and methods: This study included 30 patients with idiopathic epilepsy and 30 healthy age and sex matching control subjects. P300 test was carried out before and after exposure to the MPR, with stress on RT and amplitude. Digital EEG recording was carried out for a total of 60 minutes including 30 minutes duration of the phone call. Visual as well as quantitative EEG analyses were carried out. Mean power for theta, alpha, and beta bands was calculated at7 epochs at occipital and temporal electrodes and compared to the basal record. Similarly, mean Frequency was calculated and compared before and after the phone call. Results An increase in RT and drop in the amplitude of the P300 responses on exposure to the MPR more evident in the epileptics. An increase in the number of abnormal EEG discharges was detected by visual analysis in epileptic patients. Such discharges were negatively correlated to the time elapsed since last clinical seizure

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