Physiologically patterned weak magnetic fields applied over left frontal lobe increase acceptance of false statements as true.
Ross ML, Koren SA, Persinger MA. · 2008
View Original AbstractWeak magnetic fields at household appliance levels can double the likelihood of accepting false information as true.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed 50 people to weak magnetic fields over their left forehead while they processed true or false statements about word definitions. Those exposed to specific pulsed magnetic field patterns (25 Hz or burst-firing) were twice as likely to later accept false statements as true compared to control groups. This demonstrates that extremely weak magnetic fields can directly influence cognitive judgment and decision-making processes in the brain.
Why This Matters
This study reveals something profound about EMF exposure and brain function that goes far beyond the typical focus on heating effects or cancer risks. The magnetic field intensities used here (1-10 microTesla) are remarkably weak - comparable to what you might encounter from some household appliances or electrical wiring. Yet these fields demonstrably altered how participants processed information and made judgments about truth versus falsehood. What makes this particularly significant is that it shows EMF can influence higher-order cognitive processes like critical thinking and belief formation. The science demonstrates that our brains are far more sensitive to electromagnetic influences than regulatory agencies acknowledge, operating on the assumption that only thermal effects matter. This research suggests we need to reconsider how everyday EMF exposure might be subtly affecting our cognitive abilities and decision-making processes.
Exposure Details
- Magnetic Field
- 0.001 to 0.01 mG
- Source/Device
- 25 Hz, 50 Hz
- Exposure Duration
- 20 ms on - 20 ms off, for 1 s & 10 ms on - 10 ms off, for 1 s
Exposure Context
This study used 0.001 to 0.01 mG for magnetic fields:
- 50x above the Building Biology guideline of 0.2 mG
- 10x above the BioInitiative Report recommendation of 1 mG
Building Biology guidelines are practitioner-based limits from real-world assessments. BioInitiative Report recommendations are based on peer-reviewed science. Check Your Exposure to compare your own measurements.
Where This Falls on the Concern Scale
Study Details
To test whether a weak magnetic field pulsed over the left prefrontal brain region at the moment of accepting or refuting a statement could increase the likelihood of later accepting a false statement as true.
Fifty men and women were exposed to only one of four experimentally generated magnetic fields over t...
When the statements were presented again, the groups who had received the burst-firing (“limbic”) or...
Show BibTeX
@article{ml_2008_physiologically_patterned_weak_magnetic_290,
author = {Ross ML and Koren SA and Persinger MA.},
title = {Physiologically patterned weak magnetic fields applied over left frontal lobe increase acceptance of false statements as true.},
year = {2008},
doi = {10.1080/15368370802493545},
url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15368370802493545},
}