Cell Phones and Insomnia

As most of us know, college is a time where you tend to lose more sleep than you gain. Late night study sessions, “all nighters” to write papers, and early morning classes all contribute to this lack of sleep. However, recent studies have shown that an object that many of us use, quite frequently, every day can also lead to the insomnia we may experience.

According to a report in the British newspaper, The Independent, sweeping new research has linked the radiation emitted by mobile phones to such symptoms as confusion, sleeping problems and chronic headaches. Scientists studying 35 men and 35 women found that using the phones before bed delays and shortens the deep stages of sleep—the part of sleep that allows the brain and body to repair and rejuvenate from the day's wear and tear, The Independent reported.

In children and teens, who tend to use their phones late at night, the study found that the sleep disturbances caused by the radiation can trigger depression, mood swings, ADHD-like symptoms and personality changes, and impair concentration and academic performance.

“The study indicates that during laboratory exposure to 884 MHz wireless signals components of sleep believed to be important for recovery from daily wear and tear are adversely affected," scientists concluded in the study.

In yet another study conducted by Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, similar results were reported. According to Wayne's Bengt Arnetz, M.D, “The study strongly suggests that mobile phone use is associated with specific changes in the areas of the brain responsible for activating and coordinating the stress system.”

According to study conducted by Sage Associates in Santa Barbara, CA , Mann et al (1996) reported that RFR similar to digital mobile telephones reduced REM sleep in humans and altered the EEG (brain wave) signal in humans during REM sleep. REM sleep is essential for information processing in the brain, particularly with respect to learning and memory functions. It is thought to be needed for selecting, sorting and consolidating new experiences and information received during the waking state, and linking them together with old experiences.

The stage in REM sleep in which reparative hormones are released lies in stage three and four when we enter deep sleep. Cell phone radiation is thought to interrupt brain waves in the first stage of REM sleep, therefore making deep sleep harder to attain.

These studies have shown that sleeping or being near a cell phone while going to sleep exposes you to the radiation that can interrupt your brain wave activity as you are trying to sleep. The benefits that are being lost due to insomnia possibly caused by cell phone radiation are immense. The parts of sleep that are being interrupted are vital to our every day functionality. Although it may not be possible to avoid long night study session, by cutting back on cell phone use before going to bed, you may gain a better night's sleep and improve your academic performance.

Sources:
http://www.scienceagogo.com/news/20080022163453data_trunc_sys.shtml

http://www.thementalfitnesscenter.com/blog/fascinating-information-about-cell-phones-and-sleeplessness/

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,324140,00.html

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/brain_basics/understanding_sleep.htm

http://www.salzburg.gv.at/Proceedings_(15)_Sage_2.pdf.

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