Kevin S. Saroka

Neural oscillations in the alpha and theta bands have been linked to environmental factors, including geomagnetic disturbances, yet the temporal dynamics of these interactions remain poorly understood. This study examined the relationship between geomagnetic activity, quantified by the Kp index, and brain activity in low alpha (7–10 Hz) and theta (4–7 Hz) bands using two complementary approaches. In Experiment 1, archival EEG data from 238 subjects collected over four years were analyzed for correlations between daily Kp values and band power across a ±90-day window. Significant positive correlations (p < 0.01) emerged in both bands, with a spatially coherent peak in caudal regions occurring 19 days prior to EEG measurement. In Experiment 2, an independent sample of 22 participants was exposed to a simulated geomagnetic storm, and EEG was recorded at baseline and 19 days post-exposure. Paired-samples t-tests revealed significant within-subject reductions in theta, low alpha, and high alpha power over frontal and parietal regions, consistent with a delayed neural response. Together, these findings provide converging correlational and experimental evidence for a lagged influence of geomagnetic activity on human brain oscillations. The 19-day delay observed in both datasets suggests that geomagnetic disturbances may exert residual effects on neural dynamics well beyond immediate exposure, warranting further investigation into underlying mechanisms and potential behavioral relevance.

Cells are continually exposed to a range of electromagnetic fields (EMFs), including those from the Schumann resonance to radio waves. The effects of EMFs on cells are diverse and vary based on the specific EMF type. Recent research suggests potential therapeutic applications of EMFs for various diseases. In this study, we explored the impact of a physiologically patterned EMF, inspired by the H3 receptor associated with wakefulness, on PC-12 cells in vitro. Our hypothesis posited that the application of this EMF to differentiated PC-12 cells could enhance firing patterns at specific frequencies. Cell electrophysiology was assessed using a novel device, allowing the computation of spectral power density (SPD) scores for frequencies between 1 Hz and 128 Hz. T-tests comparing SPD at certain frequencies (e.g., 29 Hz, 30 Hz, and 79 Hz) between the H3-EMF and control groups showed a significantly higher SPD in the H3 group (p < 0.050). Moreover, at 7.8 Hz and 71 Hz, a significant correlation was observed between predicted and percentages of cells with neurites (R = 0.542). Key findings indicate the efficacy of the new electrophysiology measure for assessing PC-12 cell activity, a significant increase in cellular activity with the H3-receptor-inspired EMF at specific frequencies, and the influence of 7.8 Hz and 71 Hz frequencies on neurite growth. The overall findings support the idea that the electrical frequency profiles of developing cell systems can serve as an indicator of their progression and eventual cellular outcomes.

Common stressors amongst postsecondary students are exam-induced anxiety and stress. The purpose of this study was to measure stress alterations in the student population around examinations and determine how they affect electroencephalogram (EEG) profiles and memory scores. Twenty university students were measured multiple times in the study. During each measurement, participants were administered a cortisol saliva test and an EEG. We hypothesized that cortisol levels, memory scores, and EEG profiles would all demonstrate changes near examinations. The brain regions of interest (ROIs) were the parahippocampal gyrus, the medial frontal gyrus, and the middle frontal gyrus. Results demonstrated that memory performance and parahippocampal activity were correlated, specifically in the 5–9 Hz frequency band. Correlations were also computed between cortisol levels, memory performance, and parahippocampal activity. The medial frontal gyrus also displayed changes in the mean (19–20 Hz) current source density (CSD) throughout the experiment. The middle frontal gyrus activation was highly variable during the different measurement time points. Essentially, when an individual’s memory scores were consistent between exam and nonexam trials, there was an increase in middle frontal gyrus activation during examination periods. Lastly, the right parahippocampal gyrus was found to be the most activated one day away from examination time. These results indicate that memory scores are related to cortisol levels and examination periods, but most importantly, there are overt and predictable alterations in student EEG profiles near examinations.

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The multiple quantitative similarities of basic frequencies, harmonics, magnetic field intensities, voltages, band widths, and energetic solutions that define the Schumann resonances within the separation between the earth and ionosphere and the activity within the human cerebral cortices suggest the capacity for direct interaction. The recent experimental demonstration of the representations of the Schumann resonances within the spectral densities of normal human quantitative electroencephalographic (QEEG) activity suggests a casual interaction. Calculations supported by correlations between amplitudes of the global Schumann resonances measured several thousands of km away (which were nearly identical to our local measurements) and the coherence and current densities or these frequency bands between cerebral hemispheres for a large population of human QEEG measures indicate that such interaction occurs. The energies are within the range that would allow information to be exchanged between cerebral and Schumann sources. The near-identical solution for current density from the increasing human population and background vertical electric fields suggests that changes in the former might determine the degree of coherence between the Schumann resonances. Direct comparisons of local Schumann measurements and brain activity exhibited powerful intermittent coherence within the first three harmonics. Implications of the contributions of solar transients, surface temperature, and rapidly developing technologies to modify the ionosphere’s Schumann properties are considered.

The multiple quantitative similarities of basic frequencies, harmonics, magnetic field intensities, voltages, band widths, and energetic solutions that define the Schumann resonances within the separation between the earth and ionosphere and the activity within the human cerebral cortices suggest the capacity for direct interaction. The recent experimental demonstration of the representations of the Schumann resonances within the spectral densities of normal human quantitative electroencephalographic (QEEG) activity suggests a casual interaction. Calculations supported by correlations between amplitudes of the global Schumann resonances measured several thousands of km away (which were nearly identical to our local measurements) and the coherence and current densities or these frequency bands between cerebral hemispheres for a large population of human QEEG measures indicate that such interaction occurs. The energies are within the range that would allow information to be exchanged between cerebral and Schumann sources. The near-identical solution for current density from the increasing human population and background vertical electric fields suggests that changes in the former might determine the degree of coherence between the Schumann resonances. Direct comparisons of local Schumann measurements and brain activity exhibited powerful intermittent coherence within the first three harmonics. Implications of the contributions of solar transients, surface temperature, and rapidly developing technologies to modify the ionosphere’s Schumann properties are considered.

When the energy within the mass of the human brain that is associated with the intrinsic range in fluctuations of the Gravitational Constant (G) is set equal to the energy from a magnetic field (B) within the cerebral volume and solved for B, a value in the order of 20 to 50 nT is obtained. Quantitative Electroencephalographic (QEEG) and sLORETA (Low Resolution Electromagnetic Tomography) analyses of cerebral cortical activity during exposure to a range of applied rotating, frequency-modulated, transcerebral (between the two temporal lobes) magnetic fields between < 1 nT and 7000 nT while volunteers sat within a darkened, quiet chamber were completed. There was marked enhancement of power within the 4 Hz to 10 Hz band within the right caudal (cuneus) hemisphere while the ~5 to 20 nT averaged strength magnetic fields were applied but no significant responses at lesser or greater intensities. These results suggest that a physical process coupled to the source of the fluctuation (~10-15 m3·kg-1·s-2) in G may interact with right hemispheric activity within the range at which gravity waves have been estimated to interact with Schumann frequencies generated between the earth and ionosphere.