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Brain & Nervous System

Synchronization dynamics induced on pairs of neurons under applied weak alternating magnetic fields.

No Effects Found

Azanza MJ, del Moral A, Calvo AC, Pérez-Bruzón RN, Junquera C. · 2013

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Magnetic fields from power lines can synchronize nerve cell activity, potentially disrupting normal brain communication patterns.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed pairs of snail neurons to weak 50 Hz magnetic fields (similar to power line frequencies) to see if the fields could synchronize their electrical activity. They found that magnetic fields between 0.2 and 150 Gauss could indeed cause the neurons to fire in synchronized patterns, with stronger fields sometimes disrupting this synchronization. This suggests that extremely low frequency magnetic fields can directly influence how nerve cells communicate with each other.

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 50 Hz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 50 HzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

The study examined exposure from: 50 Hz

Study Details

The current study aimed to investigate Synchronization dynamics induced on pairs of neurons under applied weak alternating magnetic fields

Pairs of Helix aspersa neurons show an alternating magnetic field dependent frequency synchronizatio...

AMFS activity reveals several specific features: i) a tight coincidence in time of the pattern and f...

Our electron microscopy studies reveal gap-like junctions confirming our immunocytochemistry results about expression of connexin 26 (Cx26) in 4.7% of Helix neurons. AMF and carbenoxolone did not induce any significant effect on spontaneous synchronization through electric synapses

Cite This Study
Azanza MJ, del Moral A, Calvo AC, Pérez-Bruzón RN, Junquera C. (2013). Synchronization dynamics induced on pairs of neurons under applied weak alternating magnetic fields. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol. 166(4):603-618, 2013.
Show BibTeX
@article{mj_2013_synchronization_dynamics_induced_on_2892,
  author = {Azanza MJ and del Moral A and Calvo AC and Pérez-Bruzón RN and Junquera C.},
  title = {Synchronization dynamics induced on pairs of neurons under applied weak alternating magnetic fields.},
  year = {2013},
  
  url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1095643313002250},
}

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, a 2013 study found that 50 Hz magnetic fields between 0.2 and 150 Gauss could synchronize the firing patterns of snail neuron pairs. The neurons fired together in time with the magnetic field frequency, suggesting power line frequencies can directly influence nerve cell communication patterns.
Yes, researchers found that higher intensity 50 Hz magnetic fields could desynchronize neuron pairs that were previously firing together. While moderate field strengths promoted synchronized firing, stronger magnetic fields disrupted this coordination, showing intensity-dependent effects on nerve cell communication.
The study found that 4.7% of snail neurons contained connexin 26 gap junctions, but 50 Hz magnetic fields did not affect spontaneous synchronization through these electrical connections. The magnetic field effects appeared to work through different mechanisms than gap junction communication.
Snail neuron pairs showed coordinated excitation followed by inhibition when exposed to 50 Hz magnetic fields. Both neurons in each pair exhibited this biphasic response pattern simultaneously, demonstrating that the magnetic fields triggered parallel changes in neural activity across connected cells.
Yes, this 2013 research demonstrated that 50 Hz magnetic fields can directly influence nerve cell communication by synchronizing their electrical activity patterns. The findings suggest that power line frequency magnetic fields may affect how neurons coordinate their signaling in biological systems.