Researchers to study adolescent cognitive development among tech users

British researchers want to better understand any potential smartphone and tablet health ramifications on adolescent brain development. As part of the Study of Cognition, Adolescents and Mobile Phone projects will focus on memory and attention, during a sensitive time in brain development, to see if tech-savvy children are at risk. The study will focus on 2,500 seventh graders in schools across London, and will take over three years of continued research.

Research hasn't found that radio waves affect brain health, though previous studies have focused on adults and not children. Once research is completed, investigators want to find any potential negative impact on cognitive abilities in teenagers.

"Scientific evidence available to date is reassuring and shows no association between exposure to radio frequency waves from mobile phone use and brain cancer in adults in the short term - i.e., less than 10 years of use," said Paul Elliott, Director of the Center for Environmental Health at Imperial College London, in a statement. "But the evidence available regarding long-term heavy use and children's use is limited and less clear."