Why Study Them?

All matter, including molecular aggregates, cellular organizations, and whole organisms, displays magnetic properties. The information, which controls the reactions of molecules, the actions of cells, and the behaviours of organisms, is determined by the spatial and temporal complexity of electromagnetic fields. We have found that the more we simulate natural electromagnetic patterns displayed by living systems the less the amount of energy is required to affect the organism, including its most complex behaviours such as memory, learning and social interaction. Whereas the effects of chemicals, including pharmacological agents (drugs), are determined by the specific complexity of their spatial structures, the effects of electromagnetic fields are determined by the complexity of their temporal structures. Theoretically, we might simulate all of the effects of drugs as well as the chemical pathways within biological systems by the direct application of appropriate weak, complex magnetic fields.

What We Have Found

Temporal complexity and its subordinate spatial heterogeneity (rather than homogeneity of intensity) are the keys to affecting living systems. About fifteen years ago, when the personal computer became easily available, Stan Koren generated columns of numbers between 1 and 257. Values above 127 were positive polarity (up to +5V); those below 127 were negative polarity (down to -5 V). The duration of the voltage associated with each number can be programmed to between 1 msec to several tens of msec. The numbers of values in each row have ranged from a few hundred to several tens of thousands. We have applied mathematical, reiterative and chaotic algorithms as well. This meant we could generate patterns of any complexity ranging from those derived from digital records of neuronal activity to those produced by the most complex mathematical formula. We then apply them through the brain or the entire body.

In summary we have found that: 1) burst-firing patterns produce reliable analgesia that is similar to 4 mg/kg of morphine, 2) a theta-frequency pattern known to produce long-term potentiation, the fundamental correlate of memory consolidation, can enhance or completely disrupt learning, 3) a specific sequence designed to affect gene expression produced specific long term behavioral and histological alterations in rats exposed to this pattern during their prenatal development. One specific pattern, designed to simulate continuous pulsations (pc1) with intensities between 1 nT and 50 nT may be involved with sudden infant death in rats. Other patterns when applied over the right hemisphere of the human brain can elicit mystical experiences such as the sensed presence. One particular pattern, when applied for 30 min once per week for three weeks, reduced depression in patients who had sustained acquired brain injuries.