Transduction of the Geomagnetic Field as Evidenced from alpha-Band Activity in the Human Brain

Wang, Connie X.; Hilburn, Isaac A.; Wu, Daw‐An; Mizuhara, Yuki; Cousté, Christopher P.; Abrahams, J. N. H.; Bernstein, Sam E.; Matani, Ayumu; Shimojo, Shinsuke; Kirschvink, Joseph L.

doi:10.1523/eneuro.0483-18.2019

Cited by 108 publications

(86 citation statements)

References 89 publications

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“…The magnetic compass of migratory birds is based on a sensory modality which is lacking in humans (but see 1 ). This is the reason why the use of a magnetic compass baffles the researchers.…”

Section: The Magnetic Compass Is An Important Element Of the Avian Namentioning

confidence: 99%

Magnetic compass of garden warblers is not affected by oscillating magnetic fields applied to their eyes

Bojarinova

Kavokin

Pakhomov

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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The magnetic compass is an important element of the avian navigation system, which allows migratory birds to solve complex tasks of moving between distant breeding and wintering locations. The photochemical magnetoreception in the eye is believed to be the primary biophysical mechanism behind the magnetic sense of birds. It was shown previously that birds were disoriented in presence of weak oscillating magnetic fields (OMF) with frequencies in the megahertz range. The OMF effect was considered to be a fingerprint of the photochemical magnetoreception in the eye. In this work, we used miniaturized portable magnetic coils attached to the bird’s head to specifically target the compass receptor. We performed behavioural experiments on orientation of long-distance migrants, garden warblers (Sylvia borin), in round arenas. The OMF with the amplitude of about 5 nT was applied locally to the birds’ eyes. Surprisingly, the birds were not disoriented and showed the seasonally appropriate migratory direction. On the contrary, the same birds placed in a homogeneous 5 nT OMF generated by large stationary coils showed clear disorientation. On the basis of these findings, we suggest that the disruption of magnetic orientation of birds by oscillating magnetic fields is not related to photochemical magnetoreceptors in their eyes.

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Section: The Magnetic Compass Is An Important Element Of the Avian Namentioning

confidence: 99%

Magnetic compass of garden warblers is not affected by oscillating magnetic fields applied to their eyes

Bojarinova

Kavokin

Pakhomov

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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show abstract

“…For example, at human body level, MF stimulation to the left posterior parietal cortex induces an LR inversion in the human brain . People's brain alpha were studied to determine whether the brain reacts to changes in MF direction . This study poses an intriguing question—why people seem to respond to downward‐ but not upward‐pointing MFs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of static magnetic field on DNA synthesis: The interplay between DNA chirality and magnetic field left‐right asymmetry

Yang

Polyakova

et al. 2020

FASEB BioAdvances

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Interactions between magnetic fields (MFs) and living cells may stimulate a large variety of cellular responses to a MF, while the underlying intracellular mechanisms still remain a great puzzle. On a fundamental level, the MF — cell interaction is affected by the two broken symmetries: (a) left‐right (LR) asymmetry of the MF and (b) chirality of DNA molecules carrying electric charges and subjected to the Lorentz force when moving in a MF. Here we report on the chirality‐driven effect of static magnetic fields (SMFs) on DNA synthesis. This newly discovered effect reveals how the interplay between two fundamental features of symmetry in living and inanimate nature—DNA chirality and the inherent features of MFs to distinguish the left and right—manifests itself in different DNA synthesis rates in the upward and downward SMFs, consequently resulting in unequal cell proliferation for the two directions of the field. The interplay between DNA chirality and MF LR asymmetry will provide fundamental knowledge for many MF‐induced biological phenotypes.

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“…A number of possible mechanisms to explain the effects of such exogenous magnetic fields on vestibular stimulation have been discussed [25], but these magnetic fields are strong and several magnitudes higher than the endogenous geomagnetic field. Such studies have led to the possibility that humans can detect magnetic fields via brain elements [26].…”

Section: Space Flight-the New Opportunity For Understanding Homo Sapiensmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Space Environments in System Physiologic and Molecular Integrity: Redefining the Concept of Human Health beyond the Boundary Conditions of Earth

Hart¹

2019

JBiSE

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Space travel since the 1960s has led to a number of physiological alterations to homeostasis in astronauts. Extensive variation in the pattern of responses observed has led a concerted effort to develop countermeasures to overcome such changes and restore homeostasis, and thus "health" is defined as more "Earth-like". These adaptations to a space environment by a species which evolved and normally exists in the 1 g environment, the geomagnetic field, and background radiation of Earth are viewed as threats to health as defined by the conditions of Earth. Exposure to space can lead to alterations in genomic stability and epigenetic signatures, alterations which could redefine "health" and responses to risks for loss of health for those who will return to Earth. In contrast, in the future individuals born in non-Earth space environments will likely develop an integrated metabolic set point defined by those conditions. They will thus be shaped by both the local environments, and space-associated genomic/epigenomic alterations to their parents. Therefore, such an altered set point for those born and raised in non-Earth space environments will potentially have physiological and molecular consequences which may lead to either new evolutionary adaptation, or to compromise of long term health due to drastically altered set points for integrated physiologic function which is at odds with the evolutionary history of humans. The implications of the two options will be critical for defining "health" in altered environments encountered during space ventures, as well as providing insights into the regulation of human integrity at the physiological level. Therefore, the definition of "health" is dependent on the boundary conditions surrounding development and maturation, and is a dynamic concept.

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Transduction of the Geomagnetic Field as Evidenced from alpha-Band Activity in the Human Brain

Abstract: Visual Abstract

Cited by 108 publications

References 89 publications

Magnetic compass of garden warblers is not affected by oscillating magnetic fields applied to their eyes

Magnetic compass of garden warblers is not affected by oscillating magnetic fields applied to their eyes

Effect of static magnetic field on DNA synthesis: The interplay between DNA chirality and magnetic field left‐right asymmetry

Influence of Space Environments in System Physiologic and Molecular Integrity: Redefining the Concept of Human Health beyond the Boundary Conditions of Earth

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