Available via license: CC BY 4.0
Content may be subject to copyright.
I S S N 2 3 4 7 - 3487
V o l u m e 1 2 N u m b e r 2
J o u r n a l o f A d v a n c e s i n P h y s i c s
4255 | P a g e C o u n c i l f o r I n n o v a t i v e R e s e a r c h
August 2016 www.cirworld.com
MicroVolt Variations of The Human Brain (Quantitative
Electroencephalography) Display Differential Torque Effects During
West-East versus North-South Orientation in the Geomagnetic Field
David A. E. Vares, Paula L. Corradini, and Michael A. Persinger
Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada P3E 2C6
Dx_Vares@laurentian.ca; Px_Corradini@laurentian.ca; mpersinger@laurentian.ca
ABSTRACT
The human brain was assumed to be an elliptical electric dipole. Repeated quantitative electroencephalographic
measurements over several weeks were completed for a single subject who sat in either a magnetic eastward or magnetic
southward direction. The predicted potential difference equivalence for the torque while facing perpendicular (west-to-east)
to the northward component of the geomagnetic field (relative to facing south) was 4 μV. The actual measurement was 10
μV. The oscillation frequency around the central equilibrium based upon the summed units of neuronal processes within
the cerebral cortices for the moment of inertia was 1 to 2 ms which are the boundaries for the action potential of axons and
the latencies for diffusion of neurotransmitters. The calculated additional energy available to each neuron within the
human cerebrum during the torque condition was ~10-20 J which is the same order of magnitude as the energy associated
with action potentials, resting membrane potentials, and ligand-receptor binding. It is also the basic energy at the level of
the neuronal cell membrane that originates from gravitational forces upon a single cell and the local expression of the
uniaxial magnetic anisotropic constant for ferritin which occurs in the brain. These results indicate that the more complex
electrophysiological functions that are strongly correlated with cognitive and related human properties can be described by
basic physics and may respond to specific geomagnetic spatial orientation.
Indexing terms/Keywords
brain magnetic dipole; torque energy; geomagnetic field orientation; electroencephalographic power; brain physics;
moment of inertia; magnetization
Academic Discipline And Sub-Disciplines
Physics; Biophysics; Electromagnetism
SUBJECT CLASSIFICATION
Cerebral Magnetic Dipoles; Geomagnetic Field Torque; Quantitative Electroecephalography
TYPE (METHOD/APPROACH)
Experimental Physics; Quantitative Analyses; Convergent Operations
INTRODUCTION
The human brain occupies space and exhibits mass within which billions of polarized neurons generate
circulating currents. Along most of the surface area of this oval (ellipsoid) structure the neurons are oriented as electric
dipoles which serve as the substrate for steady-state potentials with magnitudes in the range of 10 mV to 30 mV [1].
Superimposed upon these “d.c.” or steady-state fields are time-varying perturbations in the order of 10 μV to 100 μV that
reflect interface patterns and correlated inputs from afferent (sensory) pathways and internal, closed circuits that constitute
most (~90%) of the system. Considering the approximately 1.27:1 ratio of the major (rostral-caudal) to minor (lateral-
medial) axes of this current generating mass and its accompanying electric and magnetic fields, the human brain should
display evidence of torque when oriented in an east-west with respect to a north-south direction within the local
geomagnetic field. Here we present experimental evidence that quantifiable shifts that are consistent with torque are
manifested within measurable shifts in the global power measured by quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG).
THE MODEL
The approximately 25 billion neurons [2] within the 3 to 5 mm shell (cortices) that define the outer boundary of the
human cerebrum is considered the primary source of electroencephalographic activity. This activity is strongly coupled to
complex subjective experiences and cognitive operations that contribute to overt behaviors. The cerebral cortices can be
assumed to be analogous to the billions of circulating atomic currents attributed to the actual sources of the magnetic (B)
field in magnetizable materials. The magnetization M is defined as the average dipole moment (A·m2) per unit volume (m3)
or A·m-1.
The torque (T) in Joules upon an integrated magnetic dipole such as the human cerebrum when immersed in the
static magnetic field of the earth can be described by:
T=mB sinθ (1)
I S S N 2 3 4 7 - 3487
V o l u m e 1 2 N u m b e r 2
J o u r n a l o f A d v a n c e s i n P h y s i c s
4256 | P a g e C o u n c i l f o r I n n o v a t i v e R e s e a r c h
August 2016 www.cirworld.com
where m is the dipole moment for a current loop (Iπr2). The integrated loop is generated in a rostral-to-caudal direction
every ~20 to 25 ms (or “40 Hz”). When integrated over the length of the magnet, the total torque would be:
T=(Mlπr2) ·B sinθ (2)
where M is the equivalent of the uniform permanent magnetization and lπr2 is the volume of the ellipsoid magnet.
For comparative precision, the dipole moment (Dm) for a spherical shaped volume would be:
Dm=4/3π r3 M (3),
such that the total torque would be:
T=dm B sinθ (4).
Although the parameters by which predictions might be made for the cerebral volume are not exact, median
averages were employed to obtain first order estimates for the solutions for equations 3 and 4. A typical steady state
potential difference between the rostral and caudal boundaries of the human cerebrum is ~30 mV (3·10-2V). The current
within the whole brain which would be mediated primarily through interstitial (extracellular) fluid with a resistivity of 2 Ω·m
would be 1.5·10-2A·m-1 and when applied across the longitudinal length of the cerebrum (~1.8·10-1 m) is 2.7·10-3 A.
Distributed over the total surface area of the cerebral cortices which according to Pakkenburg et al [2] is 8·10-2 m2, the
magnetic moment would 2.2·10-4 A·m2 and when divided by the volume of the cerebrum (1.3·10-3 m-3), results in a
magnetization value (M) of 1.7·10-1 A·m-1.
When this value is inserted into equation 3, where the averaged radius of the cerebrum of 5.5·10-2 m is
assumed, the dipole moment is ~1.2·10-4 A·m2. Although the resultant static geomagnetic field in our location of
measurement is about 49,400 nT, the N-S component of the local magnetic field was about 10,200 nT. Consequently the
torque upon the rostral-caudal dipole of the cerebrum when it is perpendicular (facing east) compared to when it is parallel
(facing south) or a sine θ of 90° would be ~1.2·10-9 J.
The spatial and temporal properties of the neurons within the cerebral cortices can be extracted from the time
constants and space constants of the average cortical neuron. For the time constant (τ),
Τ=Rm·Cm (5).
If the median value for Rm is 105 Ω·cm2 and the capacitance of the membrane is 10-6 F·cm2 the time constant is 100 ms or
10 Hz. In fact the latter is peak power output of the human electroencephalogram [3] and the former is the median value
for relative refractory periods for major classes of neurons.
The space (or length) constant for the typical axon is classically described by:
λ=√[(d·Rm) ·Ri-1] ( 6),
where d is the diameter of the axon, Rm is the typical resistance of the membrane, and Ri is the resistance of the
axoplasm. Assuming the value 105 Ω·cm2 for Rm, the average axon width of 1 μm and the axoplasm’s resistance to be ~50
Ω·cm, the space constant would 0.2 to 0.3 cm or 2 to 3 mm which is the average thickness of the cerebral cortices.
Consequently the gross physical and dynamic properties of the cerebral cortices reflect the properties of the individual
units that comprise that manifold.
We assumed that the primary source of the electroencephalographic activity from the cerebral cortices whose
time constant for the basic unit axon is about 100 ms (10 Hz). The product of the unit charge (1.6 ·10-19 A·s), the ~106
charges that maintain a resting membrane potential [4], and the ~2 to 2.5·1010 neurons within the cerebral cortices where
about 10% (0.1) are active at any given time because of the time constant, the total Coulombs would be 3.2·10-4 A·s. The
division of energy (1.2·10-9 J) from the torque at 90° from the north vector by 3.2·10-4 A·s would be ~3 to 4 μV. This is
within the range of measurement possibilities for modern QEEG.
METHODS AND MATERIALS
Although the tradition in quantitative electroencephalography has been to assess groups, we reasoned that the
repeated measure of the same brain (person) would reduce the large source of variance from individual differences and
amplify the experimental differences. A single 30 year old male volunteered for QEEG measurements on 12 separate
occasions. For half the number of measurements he sat in a southern direction (parallel to the N-S geomagnetic field
component). The other half of the numbers of measurements he sat facing east. The measurements were completed in an
alternating direction on separate days.
The data were collected from a 19 channel Mitsar device from sensors distributed and maintained in position by
an EEG cap. The data were collected at 500 Hz for duration of 4 min while the subject’s eyes were closed. The
measurements from the major longitudinal (rostral-caudal) axis (Fp1, O2) were extracted. The spectral power as
measured in μV2·Hz-1 was obtained for the band between 1 and 40 Hz. The means and standard deviations for the values
I S S N 2 3 4 7 - 3487
V o l u m e 1 2 N u m b e r 2
J o u r n a l o f A d v a n c e s i n P h y s i c s
4257 | P a g e C o u n c i l f o r I n n o v a t i v e R e s e a r c h
August 2016 www.cirworld.com
for the 6 different days in which the person faced south and the 6 different days the person faced east (maximum torque)
were calculated by SPSS-PC software.
RESULTS AND VERIFICATIONS
The means and standard deviations for spectral power (μV2·Hz-1) for the 6 days in which the subject faced east
(maximum torque) were 365±115 μV2·Hz-1. These values for the average of the 6 days the subject faced south were
257±83 μV2·Hz-1. This inference of cerebral voltage during the maximum torque orientation was 108 μV2 higher than
during the minimum torque (θ=0) and was statistically significant. The square root of that value 10 μV and is within the
same order of magnitude as that predicted from the model and physical approach to the cerebrum as a magnetic dipole
that is prone to torque from the geomagnetic field in which it is immersed.
The torque equivalence of 1.2·10-9 J becomes relevant if it is distributed within every neuron within the cerebral
volume. If the numbers of neurons in addition to the 20 to 25 billion within the cerebral cortices are considered, that is
about 3 times that value (60 billion), the average energy per neuron would be 2·10-20 J. This is within the increment
associated with effect of a voltage shift (1.2·10-1 V) for each action potential with a duration of ~1 ms on a unit charge
(1.6·10-19 A s). It is also the energy associated with the electric force between two adjacent potassium ions, the sum of
which is one of the candidates for the plasma membrane resting potential and the typical sequestering energy for many
ligands to receptors. This resulting biophysical potential would be within the range of magnitudes to accommodate the
differential orientation effects within the geomagnetic field upon the onset of dream (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep as
measured by Ruhenstroh-Bauer et al [5].
This quantity of energy per cell that would be associated with a frequent torque within the cerebrum as it orients
within the degrees between parallel and orthogonal confluence with the north-south geomagnetic directional field is not
trivial. Wien’s law of λ=0.29 cm·deg·K-1 where K is temperature in Kelvin, indicates that at 37° C, the wavelength is 10 μm.
The equivalent frequency when the velocity of light in a vacuum is assumed results in 10-20 J. In addition when the
product of the mass of the earth (5.98·1024 kg) and the mass of a 10 μm diameter cell (5.2·10-13 kg) is divided by the
square of the earth’s radius (6.38·106 m) and multiplied by G (6.67·10-11 m3·kg-1·s-2) the force is 5.1·10-12 N. When applied
across the width of a plasma cell membrane (~10-8 m) the energy is ~10-20 J. The convergence of the magnitudes of
energies from the steady-state gravitational source and the dynamic (transient) magnetic field torque-initiated source
suggests a potentially recondite synergism.
The human brain also contains iron as measured by electron microscopy, Mossbauer spectrometry and SQUID
magnetometry [6]. Approximately 61% to 88% of the iron is ferritin-like in nature. The total concentration within the brain
has been estimated to be 1.5 (3) mg. The average core diameter of the particles was about 3 to 5 nm. This was similar to
original work of Kirschvink et al [7] indicating ~4 ng of magnetite per gm of brain tissue. However the magnitude within the
meninges which covers the cerebral cortices was 70 ng per g. They found that brain tissue contained about 5 million
crystals of magnetic per gm distributed in 50,000 to 100,000 discrete clusters. Grain sizes were bimodal in distribution:
between 10 to 70 nm or 90 to 200 nm. The particles’ magnetic orientation energies in the geomagnetic field were 20 to
150 times higher than the background kT values. The value of 4·104 J·m-3 for the uniaxial magnetic anisotropy constant for
ferritin in the brain measured by Dubiel et al [6] is particularly relevant. This is within the upper limit of the energy
associated with glucose utilization per s (~20 to 30 W). The effective volume within the cerebrum to obtain the value 2·10-
20 J would be 0.5·10-24 m3 or a functional linear distance of 8 nm, which is within the range of the width of a plasma cell
membrane.
FURTHER EXTRAPOLATIONS
In a dynamic system where the displacements would be minute, the energies would be extremely small such as
10-20 J and the functional distances would be with the range of delocalized electrons. Newton’s third law should be
quantifiable as an oscillatory return to the initial baseline condition. It would be related to the angular displacement.
Consequently the electrical processes within the cerebrum that respond with torque to the east-west relative to north-south
orientations should oscillate around the central (equilibrium) condition with a frequency (f), such that,
f=(2π)-1 √[(vMB) ·Im-1] (7)
where v is the volume of the cerebrum, M is magnetization equivalent, B is the magnetic field strength and Im is the
moment of inertia of the “magnet” (the brain) around its center of oscillation. Technically, moment of inertia is the sum of
the products of the mass of each unit or particle of a body multiplied by the square of its perpendicular distance from the
axis of central tendency.
The moment of inertia for the cerebrum as a whole mass would be the product of its mass (~1.5 kg) and square
of the radius (5.5·10-2 m) or 4.6·10-3 kg·m2. The square root of the quotient for 2.2·10-9 J and the moment of inertia is
0.7·10-3 Hz and after accounting for 2π-1 the frequency would be 1.1·10-4 Hz, or, 9·103 s. This is 1.5 to 2 hrs. Such a
period would be expected to be negligible considering the frequency of shifting orientation of the typical person.
However if the moment of inertia of the whole cerebrum (cortices) was considered the averaged values for each
cell that constitutes the mass, then a more rational value emerges. Although most approaches employ the features of only
the neuronal soma, the dipole component arises from the processes (axon and dendrites). The soma constitutes only
about 10% of the total volume of the neuron. Consequently the mass of the entire neuron with processes would be 4.7·10-
11 kg. Assuming the average depth of the cerebral cortices, 3 mm (3·10-3 m), the resulting moment of inertia would be
I S S N 2 3 4 7 - 3487
V o l u m e 1 2 N u m b e r 2
J o u r n a l o f A d v a n c e s i n P h y s i c s
4258 | P a g e C o u n c i l f o r I n n o v a t i v e R e s e a r c h
August 2016 www.cirworld.com
1.1·10-16 kg·m2. The square root of the ratio of 2.2·10-9 J and this estimate of frequency is 4.5·103 Hz. When divided by
2π, the oscillation frequency would be ~0.7·103 Hz. The equivalent duration is between ~1 ms and 2 ms.
This calculated “oscillation” around the reference center is within the precise range of multiple fundamental
electrophysiological and chemical properties of neurons upon which the QEEG is based. It is within the range of the
absolute refractory period for action potentials. As shown by Clements [8] the slower phase of the biphasic time constant
for transmitters to traverse the synaptic cleft requires 2 ms. According to Benke et al [9] the range of the “opening time”
for single conductance ion channels ranges between 0.5 and 4 ms. The convergence of the frequency for these
components suggests that the temporal frame of cerebral function upon which higher functions strongly depend may
reflect the cumulative history of the oscillations around the central equilibrium of the frequently moving dipole cerebral
volumes within the earth’s magnetic field.
DISCUSSION
The results of this study indicate that the total spectral power over the major axis of the human cerebrum displays
evidence of energy accumulation or torque when the person is facing east (perpendicular to the north directional
component of the geomagnetic field) relative to facing south. The difference in the total amount of this energy and
associated voltage was consistent with predictions from the basic equations of physics. In addition the oscillation of the
“cerebral dipole” around its central equilibrium involved a frequency that was consistent with the contribution from the
averaged sum of each neuron and its processes rather than the brain as single mass unit. The specific frequency reflected
a duration (about 1 ms) that defines the basic temporal unit of the physical brain. This is the duration of the absolute
refractory period of axons, as well as the matched time for neurotransmitters to diffuse across the synaptic cleft.
Although traditions in many cultures refer to the orientation of the experient with respect to beneficial influences
of the local static geomagnetic field, precise measurements employing the perspectives of modern physics have been
published only recently. Ruhenstroh-Bauer et al [5] found that compared to subjects sleeping in the N-S position those
sleeping in the E-W direction display a shortened latency to display REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep that is significantly
correlated with dreaming. If there is an additional 10-20 J per neuron available from simply this orientation then an
acceleration of the neural processes that initiate the pontine-geniculo-occipital processes that precede normal dreaming
might be expected.
Later Ruhenstroh-Bauer et al [5] found that even with strip-chart recording the EEGs of normal subjects differed
depending if they were sitting in a N-S or E-W direction. They employed a 16 channel system with a band pass filter of 0.5
to 30 Hz. Mean power spectra of 6 s periods were obtained for classic bands that included delta, theta, alpha, beta1 and
beta2. The measurements were taken while the subjects opened and close their fists. They found the overall power across
all frequency bands was decreased to 78.1% (by about 21%) for those who were sitting in the magnetic E-W vs the
magnetic N-S position. One possible explanation might be that the additional energy from effects of the torque was
utilized to augment the power associated with this gross motor movement.
The convergent values of 10-20 J for the differential between parallel and perpendicular (torque) orientations to
the specific north-south (X) component of the magnetometer field with those associated with the effects of gravitational
energy across the membrane and the uniaxial magnetic anisotropy at the level of the membrane may suggest a site of
synergism within the cerebral volume. Specific orientation, such as the W-E direction, might allow for the information
associated with these energies to be manifested, transiently at least, within the human brain. In general however these
effects would not likely be discerned subjectively.
CONCLUSIONS
The slightly longitudinal human cerebrum which displays a steady state potential behaves as a dipole within the
geomagnetic field. The differential torque predicted by traditional equations was within the same order of magnitude as
that measured by precise quantitative electroencephalography. The oscillation of the constituent moments of inertia match
the temporal boundaries for the electrophysiological (action potential duration) and chemical (neurotransmitter diffusion)
parameters that create the transcererbral processes measured by quantitative electroencephalography. The net increase
in energy associated with the E-W torque relative to the N-S direction was 10-20 Joules per neuron and is the same order
of magnitude as that associated with ferritin molecules and terrestrial gravity effects upon a unit cell. Considering the
pervasive occurrence of this quantity of energy within the single action potential, the resting membrane potential and
“binding” energies for neurotransmitters at receptors, the potential significance of sitting east vs south might be explored in
more detail.
REFERENCES
[1] Pressman, A. S. 1970. Electromagnetic fields and life. Springer, Berlin.
[2] Pakkenberg B, Gundersen H. J. 1997. Neocortical neuron number in humans: effect of sex and. J Comp Neurol, 384,
312-320.
[3] Niedermeyer, E., Lopes da Silva, F. 1982. Electroencephalography: basic principles, clinical applications and related
fields. Urban & Schwarzenberg, 1987.
[4] Persinger, M. A. 2010. 10-20 Joules as a neuromolecular quantum in medicinal chemistry: an alternative approach to
myriad molecular pathways. Cur. Med. Chem. 17, 3094-3098.
I S S N 2 3 4 7 - 3487
V o l u m e 1 2 N u m b e r 2
J o u r n a l o f A d v a n c e s i n P h y s i c s
4259 | P a g e C o u n c i l f o r I n n o v a t i v e R e s e a r c h
August 2016 www.cirworld.com
[5] Ruhenstroth-Bauer, T., Gunther, W., Hantschak, I., Klages, U., Kugler, J., Peters, J. 1993. Influence of the earth’s
magnetic field on resting and activated EEG mapping in normal subjects. Intern. J. Neurosci. 73, 195-201.
[6] Dubiel, S. M., Zlabtona-Rypien, B., Mackey, J. B. 1999. Magnetic properties of human liver and brain ferritin. Eur.
Biophys. J. 28, 263-267.
[7] Kirschvink, J. L., Kobayashi-Kirschvink, A., Woodford, B. J. 2006. Magnetite biomineralization in the human brain. Proc.
Nat. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 89, 7683-7687.
[8] Clements, J. D. 1996. Transmitter timecourse in the synaptic cleft: its role in central synaptic function. Trends in
Neurosci. 19, 163-170.
[9] Benke, T. A., Luthi, A., Issac, J. T.R., Collingridge, G. L. 1998. Modulation of AMPA receptor unitary conductance
synaptic activity. Nature 393, 793-797.
Author’s Biography
David A. E. Vares, is a Ph.D. student of the Interdisciplinary Human Studies Program and
a Member of the Biophoton and Quantum Molecular Biology Laboratories. He
demonstrated the relationship between the paucity of 3.6 to 3.7 M quakes globally and
their potential connection to Planck Length energies. He has applied basic physics to
interpersonal distances as factors in cancer prevalence and the potential contributions of
energies from small magnitude global seismicity to human group conflicts. Recently he
and his colleagues demonstrated a strong (0.99) inverse correlation between global
warming in the atmosphere and oceans, carbon dioxide increases, and the diminishing
strength of the earth’s magnetic dipole. The quantitative change in intermolecular
magnetic energies converged with bulk changes in global temperature and CO2.
Paula L. Corradini, completed her H.B.Sc. in Behavioural (Physical) Neuroscience and
her M.A. in Psychology, specializing in the physics and physiology of the human brain.
Her expertise involved Quantitative Electroencephalography (QEEG) and s_LORETA
(Low Resolution Electromagnetic Tomography). She was the first to demonstrate that
even the most complex neuropsychological tests employed in clinical settings could be
differentially indentified by viewing the current density profiles of incremental frequencies
from the subjects’ brains while they were engaging in the tasks. She has applied
microstate analyses of brain functions to reveal recondite patterns of injury within patients
who sustained closed head injuries but without loss of consciousness.
Michael A. Persinger, Ph.D. is a Full Professor at Laurentian University in Sudbury,
Ontario, Canada. He is affiliated with a number of different programs including
Biomolecular Sciences, Behavioural Neuroscience and Human Studies as well as the
Quantum Molecular Biology Laboratory where he is examining the relationship between
10-20 J events within the brain and complex functions. Dr. Persinger and his colleagues
have experimentally demonstrated the validity of Cosic’s Molecular Resonance
Recognition Model, Bokkon’s Cerebral Photon Field Hypothesis and the efficacy of proton
driving patterned magnetic fields that inhibit the growth of cancer cells but not normal
cells. He is an interdisciplinary scientist whose primary goal is to integrate the physical
sciences, social sciences and humanities according to their fundamental operations.
Within the last 50 years he has published more than 500 technical articles in variety of
areas that range from Astronomy to Zoology. His present experiments are focused upon
understanding the relationship between the structure of space and distribution of energy,
the shared dimensional equivalence of quantized gravitational and electromagnetic fields,
and the empirical demonstration of an intrinsic entanglement velocity.
