It changes your brain
Long cellphone calls definitely alter the brain, but scientists do not yet know if the effect is harmful. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that a call of 50 minutes sees increased activity in the section of the brain beside the phone: there is a 7 percent increase in sugar use, which is known medically as glucose metabolism.
In the experiment, cellphones were attached to both ears of every participant, with one switched off and the other muted, so the individual could not tell which cellphone was active. The sample size was small: only 47 people.
Professor Patrick Haggard of University College, London, cautioned that the news was inconclusive. No health risk has been perceived. He said fluctuation in brain activity results from thinking and so knowing whether a phone is switched on might influence the activity of the brain. He recommended further study of the matter.
The explosion of cellphone usage has long led to speculation as to its health consequences. A study by the British University of Manchester into brain tumors from 1998 to 2007 found no significant rise despite vastly increased usage of cellphones. A study of 420,000 cellphone users in Denmark showed no connection between cellphone use and cancer.
Photo: File Photo
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Tandy is a real outdoor enthusiast. With a love of hiking, camping and adventure sports, she enjoys getting fresh air and taking on new challenges. She has found getting away from the computer and into the fresh air helps her bring extra vitality to her writing.
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