Preliminary report on the effect of elf magnetic pulsations on human subjects

Abstract During the last decade considerable interest has been evinced by scientists on the possible control of earth's electromagnetic environment on human physiology. The present paper discusses the effects of oscillatory magnetic fields in the extremely low frequency range on electrophysiological and biochemical parameters in human subjects. Normal subjects and practitioners of Yoga and meditation were exposed to sinusoidally oscillating magnetic fields in the frequency range of 0.01 to 10 Hz and with amplitudes of ±5 and ±50 nT generated inside a special controlled magnetic field enclosure with the subjects' heads oriented in the four cardinal directions and also in sitting posture, and against ambient magnetic fields of about 40000 nT (local geomagnetic field) and half this value (or 20000 nT). The ECG, finger blood flow and respiration were recorded continuously on a polygraph. The EEG was also recorded on an 8-channel machine with split-up of waves into alpha, beta, delta and theta components. Biochemical assays were carried out on the blood and urine. Certain decisive changes were observed in the electrophysiology, such as, for instance, a sharp inhibition of the brain's electrical activity with the head towards the North and, in contrast, an accentuation of activity in the East orientation. Alterations in the levels of metabolites of catechol and indole amines were seen in the North orientation.