Low-Frequency Magnetic-Field Stimulation of Brain and Behavior

Since the mid-1970s, Delgado has been director of the premier Spanish neuropsychological laboratory, Centro Ramon y Cajal. His interest has shifted from direct electrical stimulation o the brain to the broader area of the biological effects of electromagnetic fields. He has studied the influence of specific frequencies of magnetic fields on the behavior and emotions of monkeys, without using any implanted electrodes or radio receivers. While Delgado did not publish any of his work in the scientific journals, its existence leaked out. In 1984 his lab was visited by a friend of mine, Kathleen McAuliffe, then an editor at Omni magazine. She was able to observe some of the experiments, and her impressions were subsequently published in the February 1985 issue of Omni.

Using very low-strength ELF magnetic fields, Delgado could deliberately produce either sleep or manic behavior in monkeys when the experimental circumstances would normally call for only alertness on their part. In other experiments, he was able to change the effects of actual electrical stimulation of one of the emotional centers of the brain by retreating the animal’s head with another ELF magnetic field. As Delgado noted, the electrical currents produced within the brain by exposure to such fields were hundreds of time lower in intensity than those required to electrically stimulate a nerve cell or those used for direct electrode stimulation. Unfortunately, we do no know whether specific frequencies were always productive of certain behaviors, or whether there were other factors involved. McAuliffe was allowed only a peek behind the curtain; most of the questions I had asked her to put to him remain unanswered.

The mechanistic concept of the brain is essentially that of a “hard-wired” system, but one that could alter its wiring patterns through learning and experience. In this system, information is carried only by the nerve impulse, which is basically the same whether it is transmitting vision, hearing, or information between parts of the brain. The different sensations are the results of signals that are routed from specific organs to specific regions of the brain.

A system such as this, based solely on a single type of signal, could not be perturbed by exposure to ELF fields of the extremely low strengths used by Delgado. The ELF field could change the operations of the pineal gland and possibly the magnetic organ, but the changes would be reflected in alterations in chemical messengers (such as melatonin and serotonin). Behavioral or emotional changes would take considerable time to develop.

It is obvious that ELF fields do not alter the operation of the visual system. For example, standing directly under a 60-Hz high-voltage power line does not produce any visual sensation at all. Except for the gross actions of hearing the hum of the line and possibly noting the static charges developed on the skin, there would be no effect on other system components. On the other hand, exposure to power-frequency fields do produce depression and other symptoms, but only after long exposure and very likely via the pineal/melatonin link.

It is impossible to explain any of the ELF effects on the basis of perception of the field. Likewise, Delgado’s observations of prompt alterations in behavior following exposures to low-strength ELF fields cannot be explained by the slow, chemical response of the pineal. The link between ELF electromagnetic fields and the mind must lie deeper--perhaps in the ancient, internal DC system sketched out in modest detail in chapter 2.