Increased theta activity in quantitative electroencephalographic (QEEG) measurements during exposure to complex weak magnetic fields.

Abstract

Previous research has shown that exposure to circumcerebral weak magnetic fields with different rates of acceleration applied in a counterclockwise rotation around the head was associated with increased estimations of subjective time and as much as a 30% increase in power within the theta range within quantitative electroencephalographic (QEEG) recordings. The largest effect was associated with magnetic fields applied with 20 ms rates of change through each of the successively stimulated, equally spaced, 8 circumcerebral solenoids. The purpose of the present study was to compare the intracerebral power spectra associated with the rotation of the same patterns in either the clockwise or counterclockwise direction. The results generally replicated previous reports and showed enhanced power over regions of the left hemisphere during clockwise rotations and over the right hemisphere during counterclockwise rotations. These results were considered congruent with the creation of "interference patterns" between the rostral-caudal generation of endogenous cerebral magnetic fields putatively associated with consciousness and the spatial direction of the applied rotating magnetic fields.