Human reaction time variability changes from low intensity 3-Hz and 10-Hz electric fields: Interactions with stimulus pattern, sex and field intensity

Abstract

ABSTRACT.-Eighty simple reaction times (RT) to the onset of a light stimulus during 40 rain of 3 successive 10-rain exposures to 3-Hz and 10-Hz electric field were measured for each of 70 human male and female subjects exposed to either 3 0 V/m, 0.3 V/m or sham field conditions. The electric fields were applied horizontally across the upper half of the subject who was seated in a Faraday cage during the experiment. Two methods of presenting the RT-stimulus (light onset) were used which incorporated rest or no rest periods No significant differences in mean RT were noted between sexes, intensities or frequency changes. Significant sex, intensity and frequency interactions were found in the amount of RT variability as measured by the RT standard deviation of 20 trial blocks. However, the magnitude of the effects was quite small and may be of little practical importance.

Can disturbances in the atmospheric electric field created by powerline corona ions disrupt melatonin production in the pineal gland?

“…Studies of other endpoints have been carried out using fields which together span some six orders of magnitude, up to 450 kV/m [53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67]. Interpretation of these studies is complicated by the fact that once field levels exceed 4 kV/m, evidence suggests that they are likely to be perceived directly [68].…”