Synchronization of Human Autonomic Nervous System Rhythms with Geomagnetic Activity in Human Subjects

Abstract

A coupling between geomagnetic activity and the human nervous system’s function was identified by virtue of continuous monitoring of heart rate variability (HRV) and the time-varying geomagnetic field over a 31-day period in a group of 10 individuals who went about their normal day-to-day lives. A time series correlation analysis identified a response of the group’s autonomic nervous systems to various dynamic changes in the solar, cosmic ray, and ambient magnetic field. Correlation coefficients and p values were calculated between the HRV variables and environmental measures during three distinct time periods of environmental activity. There were significant correlations between the group’s HRV and solar wind speed, Kp, Ap, solar radio flux, cosmic ray counts, Schumann resonance power, and the total variations in the magnetic field. In addition, the time series data were time synchronized and normalized, after which all circadian rhythms were removed. It was found that the participants’ HRV rhythms synchronized across the 31-day period at a period of approximately 2.5 days, even though all participants were in separate locations. Overall, this suggests that daily autonomic nervous system activity not only responds to changes in solar and geomagnetic activity, but is synchronized with the time-varying magnetic fields associated with geomagnetic field-line resonances and Schumann resonances.

Exploring the Relationship between Geomagnetic Activity and Human Heart Rate Variability

“…We collected 720-hour HRV data from 19 participants and obtained geomagnetic and solar activity. Previous studies found significant, strong correlations between HRV and geomagnetic activity 8,9 In seeming agreement with this previous work, we also found significant correlations between the two type of variables before correction for the autocorrelation inherent to time-series. After correction for autocorrelation, however, we only found a significant correlation between very low-frequency power of HRV and K index and a significant anticipatory effect on heart rate with Ap index.…”

“…Inspired by previous findings of time-dependent effects of geomagnetic activity on HRV 8,12 , we also examined potential relationships with an offset of one day in both anticipatory or consequential manners. As a result, we found a significant relationship of an anticipatory effect such that heart rate was lower the day before higher geomagnetic activity, though the correlation was weak (r=-.09).…”

“…To test for the potential presence of a time-lag between geomagnetic activity and change in HRV, we computed correlations between HRV components and corresponding Ap-index values 1 day after (anticipatory) and Ap-index values 1 day before (consequential). This analysis was motivated by previous studies 8,9 that discussed a potential "anticipatory effect", which may relate to the fact that changes in solar activity take several days to modulate the geomagnetic field due to the time solar wind takes to reach the earth. In this analysis, we found a significant anticipatory relationship between heart rate and Ap index which survived the correction for autocorrelation of time-series; heart rate was negatively correlated with geomagnetic activity for corrected values ( Table 6, r=-.09, p=.03).…”

“…Yet, the relationship between HRV and geomagnetic activity remains unclear since several studies found conflicting results 12,13 . Here, we attempted to replicate a previous study that showed strong and significant correlations between HRV and solar geomagnetic activity in a small pilot study 8,9 . We found significant correlations between solar/geomagnetic activity and HRV components before correction for the autocorrelation inherent to time-series.…”

“…Recent studies found that the change in the magnetic field of the earth caused by solar activity is significantly correlated with HRV 8,9 . These studies were motivated by the relationship between cardiovascular health, specifically the occurrence of myocardial infarction, and both solar and geomagnetic activity 10,11 .…”