EVALUATING SHORT-TERM EXPOSURE TO WI-FI SIGNALS ON STUDENTS’ REACTION TIME, SHORT-TERM MEMORY AND REASONING ABILITY

Abstract

Abstract This study investigated the effect of short-term exposure to Wi-Fi signals on the cognitive functions of the mind. After obtaining permission from the local Ethics Committee of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences and approval by the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT2017041233398N1), 45 male and female students from Shiraz University of Medical Sciences volunteered to participate in this study. They were exposed to Wi-Fi signals in two sham and exposure sessions, each for 2 hours. After completion, they took part in reaction time, short-term memory, and reasoning ability tests. After scoring, the data were analysed by SPSS software. In addition, the electric field strength and power density were calculated. The results showed no statistically significant differences between the mean scores of reaction time, short-term memory, and reasoning ability in sham and exposure. Also, the obtained values from the electric field strength and power density (E = 4.1 Vm−1, P = 0.446 Wm−2) were lower than that of threshold values by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). Our results can greatly reduce concerns regarding the effects of short-term exposure to Wi-Fi waves on cognitive functions.