Do Mobile Phones Make You Smarter?

There's an urban legend that's been floating around for years claiming that the radio waves from mobile phones can cause brain cancer. Actually, I wouldn't be willing to fully put the 'urban legend' stamp on that claim... it seems like there may be a few elements of truth to it. But anyway, now some people are going to the opposite extreme, arguing that not only do mobile phones not cause brain cancer, but that they actually help the brain work better and make you smarter. How? Because the phones held next to your head act like little radiators and, according to David Butler, "that heating effect actually improves the neuron transfers between neural pathways, and therefore your thinking ability goes up". Amazingly enough, Mr. Butler doesn't work for a phone company. He's the head of the National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations in Britain. But the BBC quotes many experts who completely dismiss Mr. Butler's strange argument.

Technology Urban Legends

Posted on Fri Oct 22, 2004



Comments

This gives me a great idea for a hat for the extreme crank: One with heating elements to boost your brain power, AND a tinfoil liner to block out dangerous aliens and telepaths!
Posted by Matt  on  Fri Oct 22, 2004  at  09:28 AM
Wow.
Mr. Butler is nuts.
Except in cases of extreme hypothermia, heat stroke, or high fevers, none of which are good for the brain, the body makes sure the brain stays about the same temperature all the time.
In any case, my very limited experience with cellular phones tells me they don't produce all that much heat.
But even if there were some kind of benefit to warming up the brain; hasn'nt anybody told this guy about hats?
Posted by Big Gary  on  Fri Oct 22, 2004  at  10:39 AM
I think Matt is onto something...
Posted by Aaron  on  Fri Oct 22, 2004  at  02:00 PM
I think that this kind of goes under the people who wear glasses look smarter thing. People who are on the phone all the time look like they are doing something important so they pretend to be important. This guy has hand picked data to support that.
Hats on the other hand might help brain power but the sure help hearing. If anyones ever worn a large rimed hat they know what I'm saying, its like a satellite dish.
Posted by Elwood  on  Fri Oct 22, 2004  at  03:45 PM
I always thought people who were walking around talking on their cell phones all the time actually looked less smart than other people. Not to mention, I've noticed a lot of constant-chatter cell users tend to say, "Yeah", rather than "Yes" or "okay". Yeah just seems less educated.

Once I was standing in line behind someone on their cell. Apaprently it was a woman who was trying to set up a loan for a home for a real estate purchase. She was giving her clients info over the phone...Names, address, DOB, phone #s, Social Security info. I had half a mind to call up her 'client' and let them know that I had all of their info, thanks to their Agent. Her cell was not making her smarter.
Posted by Maegan  on  Sun Oct 24, 2004  at  01:07 PM
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