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Effects of magnetic fields on living systems

  • Chapter
Bioelectrochemistry of Cells and Tissues

Part of the book series: Bioelectrochemistry: Principles and Practice ((BPP,volume 2))

Abstract

If one accepts the notion that essentially all chemical reactions or conformational changes in molecules are accompanied by the transfer or spatial rearrangement of electric charge, it is hardly surprising that electric fields are effective in changing the physiological or biochemical activity of a variety of organisms. One of the principal difficulties in the experimental or practical use of electric fields is the method of application. Except for capacitative coupling, which often involves the use of large and potentially dangerous potential differences to induce small internal fields, the use of electric fields involves the introduction of electrodes into the cell, tissue, or whatever. One is then confronted with the problems of faradaic effects, including corrosion and production of toxic substances, and of mechanical disruption or stimulation produced by the implants. We will now turn our attention to a non-invasive method of introducing energy into a living system — magnetic fields. As is known from basic physics, the use of a time-varying magnetic field in the vicinity of a conductor, or moving a conductor through a static magnetic field will induce electric currents of predictable amplitude and shape in the conductor. A review of any graduate level physics text on electricity and magnetism will familiarize the reader with the appropriate laws and formulae.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, USA

    Stephen D. Smith

  2. Department of Physics, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, 48309, USA

    Abraham R. Liboff

  3. Department of Electrical Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA

    Bruce R. McLeod

Authors
  1. Stephen D. Smith
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  2. Abraham R. Liboff
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  3. Bruce R. McLeod
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 70, CH-4056, Basel, Switzerland

    Dieter Walz

  2. IMB-BEC, POB 100 813, D-07708, Jena, Germany

    Hermann Berg Ph.D. (Emeritus Professor) (Emeritus Professor)

  3. Bioelectrochemistry Laboratory, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, D-07708, Jena, Germany

    Hermann Berg Ph.D. (Emeritus Professor) (Emeritus Professor)

  4. Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy

    Giulio Milazzo (Professor) (Professor)

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© 1995 Birkhäuser Verlag Basel/Switzerland

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Smith, S.D., Liboff, A.R., McLeod, B.R. (1995). Effects of magnetic fields on living systems. In: Walz, D., Berg, H., Milazzo, G. (eds) Bioelectrochemistry of Cells and Tissues. Bioelectrochemistry: Principles and Practice, vol 2. Birkhäuser Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-9063-2_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-9063-2_7

  • Publisher Name: Birkhäuser Basel

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-0348-9890-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-0348-9063-2

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