The effect of exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on cognitive performance in human experimental studies: A protocol for a systematic review
Abstract
The effect of exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on cognitive performance in human experimental studies: A protocol for a systematic review Blanka Pophof, Jacob Burns, Heidi Danker-Hopfe, Hans Dorn, Cornelia Egblomassé-Roidl, Torsten Eggert, Kateryna Fuks, Bernd Henschenmacher, Jens Kuhne, Cornelia Sauter, Gernot Schmid. The effect of exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on cognitive performance in human experimental studies: A protocol for a systematic review. Environ Int. 2021 Jul 29;157:106783. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106783. Abstract Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) is currently assessing the potential health effects of exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) in the general and working population. Related to one such health effect, there is a concern that RF-EMFs may affect cognitive performance in humans. The systematic review (SR) aims to identify, summarize and synthesize the evidence base related to this question. Here, we present the protocol for the planned SR. Objectives: The main objective is to present a protocol for a SR which will evaluate the associations between short-term exposure to RF-EMFs and cognitive performance in human experimental studies. Data sources: We will search the following databases: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and the EMF- Portal. The reference lists of included studies and retrieved review articles will be manually searched. Study eligibility and criteria: We will include randomized human experimental studies that assess the effects of RF-EMFs on cognitive performance compared to no exposure or lower exposure. We will include peer-reviewed articles of any publication date in any language that report primary data. Data extraction and analysis: Data will be extracted according to a pre-defined set of forms developed and piloted by the review author team. To assess the risk of bias, we will apply the Rating Tool for Human and Animal Studies developed by NTP/OHAT, supplemented with additional questions relevant for cross-over studies. Where sufficiently similar studies are identified (e.g. the heterogeneity concerning population, exposure and outcome is low and the studies can be combined), we will conduct random-effects meta-analysis; otherwise, we will conduct a narrative synthesis. Assessment of certainty of evidence: The certainty of evidence for each identified outcome will be assessed according to Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). Performing the review according to this protocol will allow the identification of possible effects of RF-EMFs on cognitive performance in humans. The protocol has been registered in PROSPERO, an open-source protocol registration system, to foster transparency. Open access paper: sciencedirect.com
AI evidence extraction
Main findings
This paper presents a protocol for a planned systematic review evaluating associations between short-term RF-EMF exposure and cognitive performance in randomized human experimental studies. It describes planned search strategies, eligibility criteria, risk-of-bias assessment, and approaches for meta-analysis or narrative synthesis, but does not report results.
Outcomes measured
- Cognitive performance
Limitations
- Protocol paper; no study results are reported.
- Specific RF-EMF exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, SAR) are not detailed in the abstract.
Suggested hubs
-
who-icnirp
(0.6) The protocol is framed within WHO's assessment of potential health effects of RF-EMF exposure.
View raw extracted JSON
{
"publication_year": 2021,
"study_type": "systematic_review",
"exposure": {
"band": "RF",
"source": null,
"frequency_mhz": null,
"sar_wkg": null,
"duration": "Short-term exposure"
},
"population": "Humans (general and working population; randomized human experimental studies)",
"sample_size": null,
"outcomes": [
"Cognitive performance"
],
"main_findings": "This paper presents a protocol for a planned systematic review evaluating associations between short-term RF-EMF exposure and cognitive performance in randomized human experimental studies. It describes planned search strategies, eligibility criteria, risk-of-bias assessment, and approaches for meta-analysis or narrative synthesis, but does not report results.",
"effect_direction": "unclear",
"limitations": [
"Protocol paper; no study results are reported.",
"Specific RF-EMF exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, SAR) are not detailed in the abstract."
],
"evidence_strength": "high",
"confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
"peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
"stance": "neutral",
"stance_confidence": 0.6999999999999999555910790149937383830547332763671875,
"summary": "This article is a protocol for a planned systematic review on whether short-term exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) affects cognitive performance in humans. The review will focus on randomized human experimental studies comparing RF-EMF exposure to no or lower exposure. The protocol outlines database searches, risk-of-bias assessment methods, and plans for meta-analysis or narrative synthesis, but provides no findings.",
"key_points": [
"The paper describes a protocol for a systematic review rather than reporting experimental results.",
"The planned review targets randomized human experimental studies of short-term RF-EMF exposure.",
"Cognitive performance is the primary outcome of interest.",
"Searches are planned in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and the EMF-Portal with manual reference checks.",
"Risk of bias will be assessed using the NTP/OHAT tool with additional considerations for cross-over studies.",
"Random-effects meta-analysis is planned when studies are sufficiently similar; otherwise narrative synthesis will be used.",
"Certainty of evidence will be graded using GRADE and the protocol is registered in PROSPERO."
],
"categories": [
"Systematic Reviews & Meta-analyses",
"Human Experimental Studies",
"Cognition & Neurobehavior"
],
"tags": [
"Systematic Review Protocol",
"Radiofrequency EMF",
"Short-Term Exposure",
"Cognitive Performance",
"Randomized Human Experiments",
"Risk of Bias",
"GRADE",
"PROSPERO Registration",
"Meta-Analysis Plan"
],
"keywords": [
"RF-EMF",
"radiofrequency electromagnetic fields",
"cognitive performance",
"human experimental studies",
"randomized",
"systematic review protocol",
"meta-analysis",
"risk of bias",
"GRADE",
"PROSPERO"
],
"suggested_hubs": [
{
"slug": "who-icnirp",
"weight": 0.59999999999999997779553950749686919152736663818359375,
"reason": "The protocol is framed within WHO's assessment of potential health effects of RF-EMF exposure."
}
],
"social": {
"tweet": "New protocol outlines a planned systematic review of randomized human experimental studies on short-term RF-EMF exposure and cognitive performance, including risk-of-bias methods and plans for meta-analysis/narrative synthesis (Environ Int, 2021).",
"facebook": "This open-access paper presents a protocol for a planned systematic review assessing whether short-term exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) affects cognitive performance in randomized human experimental studies. It details search methods, risk-of-bias assessment, and plans for meta-analysis or narrative synthesis, but does not report results.",
"linkedin": "Protocol paper (Environ Int, 2021) describing a planned systematic review of randomized human experimental studies on short-term RF-EMF exposure and cognitive performance. The authors outline database searches, NTP/OHAT-based risk-of-bias assessment (with cross-over considerations), and GRADE certainty ratings, with meta-analysis planned when appropriate."
}
}
AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.
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