Enhanced mortality of rat pups following inductions of epileptic seizures after perinatal exposures to 5 nT, 7 Hz magnetic fields

Electromagnetic fields as structure-function zeitgebers in biological systems: environmental orchestrations of morphogenesis and consciousness

Within a cell system structure dictates function. Any interaction between cells, or a cell and its environment, has the potential to have long term implications on the function of a given cell and emerging cell aggregates. The structure and function of cells are continuously subjected to modification by electrical and chemical stimuli. However, biological systems are also subjected to an ever-present influence: the electromagnetic (EM) environment. Biological systems have the potential to be influenced by subtle energies which are exchanged at atomic and subatomic scales as EM phenomena. These energy exchanges have the potential to manifest at higher orders of discourse and affect the output (behavior) of a biological system. Here we describe theoretical and experimental evidence of EM influence on cells and the integration of whole systems. Even weak interactions between EM energies and biological systems display the potential to affect a developing system. We suggest the growing literature of EM effects on biological systems has significant implications to the cell and its functional aggregates.

Greater electroencephalographic coherence between left and right temporal lobe structures during increased geomagnetic activity

Interhemispheric coherence for 19 channel EEG activity collected over a three year period from 184 men and women who relaxed in a quiet, darkened chamber showed significant increased coherence between caudal temporal regions for the 11 Hz frequency band during increased (>∼8 nT) global geomagnetic activity at the time of measurement. Detailed analyses from source-localization indicated that a likely origin was the parahippocampal regions whose net differences at 10, 11 and 12 Hz intervals were significantly correlated with geomagnetic activity. Analyses of residuals to obtain a "purer" measure of parahippocampal contributions indicated that interhemispheric temporal lobe coherence across unit increments between 1 and 40 Hz revealed the most statistically significant peaks at 7.5 Hz and 19.5 Hz. These weak but reliable correlations between global geomagnetic activity and the degree of inter-temporal lobe coherence for normal people relaxing in a dark, quiet area are consistent with the results of multiple studies indicating that intrusive experiences such as "presences" or "hallucinations" are more frequent when global geomagnetic activity increases above ∼15-20 nT.

Autism and EMF? Plausibility of a pathophysiological link part II

Autism spectrum conditions (ASCs) are defined behaviorally, but they also involve multileveled disturbances of underlying biology that find striking parallels in the physiological impacts of electromagnetic frequency and radiofrequency radiation exposures (EMF/RFR). Part I (Vol 776) of this paper reviewed the critical contributions pathophysiology may make to the etiology, pathogenesis and ongoing generation of behaviors currently defined as being core features of ASCs. We reviewed pathophysiological damage to core cellular processes that are associated both with ASCs and with biological effects of EMF/RFR exposures that contribute to chronically disrupted homeostasis. Many studies of people with ASCs have identified oxidative stress and evidence of free radical damage, cellular stress proteins, and deficiencies of antioxidants such as glutathione. Elevated intracellular calcium in ASCs may be due to genetics or may be downstream of inflammation or environmental exposures. Cell membrane lipids may be peroxidized, mitochondria may be dysfunctional, and various kinds of immune system disturbances are common. Brain oxidative stress and inflammation as well as measures consistent with blood-brain barrier and brain perfusion compromise have been documented. Part II of this paper documents how behaviors in ASCs may emerge from alterations of electrophysiological oscillatory synchronization, how EMF/RFR could contribute to these by de-tuning the organism, and policy implications of these vulnerabilities. It details evidence for mitochondrial dysfunction, immune system dysregulation, neuroinflammation and brain blood flow alterations, altered electrophysiology, disruption of electromagnetic signaling, synchrony, and sensory processing, de-tuning of the brain and organism, with autistic behaviors as emergent properties emanating from this pathophysiology. Changes in brain and autonomic nervous system electrophysiological function and sensory processing predominate, seizures are common, and sleep disruption is close to universal. All of these phenomena also occur with EMF/RFR exposure that can add to system overload ('allostatic load') in ASCs by increasing risk, and can worsen challenging biological problems and symptoms; conversely, reducing exposure might ameliorate symptoms of ASCs by reducing obstruction of physiological repair. Various vital but vulnerable mechanisms such as calcium channels may be disrupted by environmental agents, various genes associated with autism or the interaction of both. With dramatic increases in reported ASCs that are coincident in time with the deployment of wireless technologies, we need aggressive investigation of potential ASC-EMF/RFR links. The evidence is sufficient to warrant new public exposure standards benchmarked to low-intensity (non-thermal) exposure levels now known to be biologically disruptive, and strong, interim precautionary practices are advocated.

Temporally-patterned magnetic fields induce complete fragmentation in planaria

A tandem sequence composed of weak temporally-patterned magnetic fields was discovered that produced 100% dissolution of planarian in their home environment. After five consecutive days of 6.5 hr exposure to a frequency-modulated magnetic field (0.1 to 2 µT), immediately followed by an additional 6.5 hr exposure on the fifth day, to another complex field (0.5 to 5 µT) with exponentially increasing spectral power 100% of planarian dissolved within 24 hr. Reversal of the sequence of the fields or presentation of only one pattern for the same duration did not produce this effect. Direct video evidence showed expansion (by visual estimation ∼twice normal volume) of the planarian following the first field pattern followed by size reduction (estimated ∼1/2 of normal volume) and death upon activation of the second pattern. The contortions displayed by the planarian during the last field exposure suggest effects on contractile proteins and alterations in the cell membrane’s permeability to water.

Intermittent exposures to nanoTesla range, 7 Hz, amplitude-modulated magnetic fields increase regeneration rates in planarian

PURPOSE

To discern if physiologically and naturally-patterned electromagnetic fields presented with base frequencies of 7 Hz within the 100 nT range could facilitate regeneration in planarian similar to microTesla, 60 Hz fields.

METHODS

In two separate experiments planarian were decapitated and exposed to either 140 or 400 nT peak amplitude-modulated 7 Hz magnetic fields for 6 min once per hour, 8 h per night for 5 days. Daily regeneration rates and movement velocities (cm/min) were measured.

RESULTS

The planarian exposed to either intensity magnetic field exhibited faster regeneration of photoreceptors and auricles compared to sham field and reference groups. The magnetic field exposure accommodated 50% of the variance during the faster growth days.

CONCLUSIONS

Naturally-patterned, intermittently-presented weaker electromagnetic fields may produce enhanced regeneration rates in flat worms similar to those observed for 60 Hz, higher intensity fields.

Altered neuronal densities in sexually dimorphic structures: comparable effects from perinatal magnetic fields with nitric oxide synthase inhibitors and postnatal hypoxia

Cytometry of the neuronal density within four sexually dimorphic nuclei was completed for adult rats that had been perinatally exposed to 0.5Hz, 5-10nT magnetic fields or sham conditions while their mothers drank tap water containing the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor L-NAME or only tap water. One week after birth the rats were rendered hypoxic for 1 min or served as controls. Exposures to either the magnetic field or the NOS inhibitor reduced the numbers of neurons within the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis by about 25%, whereas exposure to either the hypoxia or magnetic fields resulted in comparable decreases in cell numbers within the ventromedial nucleus (dorsomedial part). For comparison males had 15% fewer neurons in these nuclei compared to females. The effect sizes for the interactions involving the perinatal exposure for 8 days to the magnetic fields were comparable to the magnitudes of those associated with 1 min of hypoxia 1 week postnatally. These results show the sensitivity of specific structures of the developing brain to interactions between subtle environmental variables.