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ELECTRICAL EFFECTS IN BONE

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C. ANDREW L. BASSETT · 1965

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Bone naturally generates healing electrical currents when stressed, revealing our bodies as bioelectric systems potentially vulnerable to EMF interference.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

This pioneering 1971 study by Dr. Andrew Bassett discovered that human bone generates small electrical currents when mechanically stressed or deformed. The research suggested that bone's natural healing and remodeling processes are controlled by these internally generated electric fields, not just mechanical forces alone.

Why This Matters

Bassett's groundbreaking discovery fundamentally changed our understanding of how bone heals and adapts. What this means for you is that your bones are essentially bioelectric systems, constantly generating and responding to electrical signals during normal movement and healing. This research opened the door to electromagnetic bone healing therapies still used today, but it also raises important questions about how external EMF exposure might interfere with these natural bioelectric processes. The reality is that if your bones rely on precise electrical signals for proper function, then chronic exposure to artificial electromagnetic fields from devices and infrastructure could potentially disrupt these delicate healing mechanisms. The science demonstrates that our bodies are far more electrically sensitive than previously understood.

Figures from the Original Paper

Diagrams extracted from the original research document.

diagramPage 5 - The structure of an osteon is shown in three dimensions, highlighting the arrangement of collagen fibers and hydroxyapatite crystals within bone tissue.
p. 5 of the original PDF
diagramPage 6 - AI-described figure: The fine structure of bone is illustrated at three levels of magnification: a cross-section without its inner marrow, a section showing collagen fibers and hydroxyapatite crystals, and a detailed juxtaposition of these components.
p. 6 of the original PDF
diagramPage 7 - A diagram illustrating an experiment to measure current produced when bone is bent, showing a bone specimen with electrodes and a plunger.
p. 7 of the original PDF
graphPage 8 - The graph illustrates the increase in electrical output (vertical axis) as a function of deformation percentage (horizontal axis), showing data for bone strips with different widths.
p. 8 of the original PDF
diagramPage 9 - AI-described figure: The diagram illustrates the process of bone growth and deformation in response to negative charge and electric current.
p. 9 of the original PDF

Exposure Information

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Cite This Study
C. ANDREW L. BASSETT (1965). ELECTRICAL EFFECTS IN BONE.
Show BibTeX
@article{electrical_effects_in_bone_g6805,
  author = {C. ANDREW L. BASSETT},
  title = {ELECTRICAL EFFECTS IN BONE},
  year = {1965},
  
  
}
No DOI on file for this study.

Quick Questions About This Study

When bone tissue is bent, compressed, or stretched, it creates piezoelectric effects that generate small electrical currents. This happens because bone contains collagen fibers and mineral crystals that produce electrical charges when physically deformed during normal movement or injury.
These naturally generated electrical fields appear to control bone remodeling, repair, and growth processes. The currents may signal bone cells when and where to build new tissue, remove old bone, or strengthen areas under mechanical stress.
Yes, this discovery led to FDA-approved electromagnetic bone growth stimulators used to treat fractures that won't heal naturally. These devices apply controlled electrical fields to mimic the body's natural bone healing currents discovered in Bassett's research.
While Bassett's study didn't address this directly, it established that bones rely on precise electrical signals for healing. This raises legitimate scientific questions about whether chronic exposure to artificial electromagnetic fields could potentially disrupt these natural bioelectric processes.
It was the first clear evidence that human tissues use electrical signals for biological control, not just nerve and muscle cells. This fundamentally changed medicine's understanding of how the body heals and opened entirely new fields of bioelectric research.