Electrophysiologic Responses of Snail Brain Neurons Under Applied 50-Hz Alternating Magnetic Fields

Abstract

The effect of 50–Hz alternating magnetic fields of 10–150 Gauss (1–15 mT) intensity applied to in vitro single neurons of Helix aspersa brain ganglia is described. The neuron electrophysiologic activity is recorded in real time. Under alternating magnetic fields, 68% of the studied neurons show modified physiologic activity. Several neuronal responses are reported: 34% of the neurons are inhibited; 18% of the neurons are stimulated; 11% show a bimodal response of the a type (stimulation followed by inhibition); and 5% show a bimodal response of the b type (inhibition followed by stimulation). In ≅ 27% of the neurons studied we have described a firing rhythm, generated at ≅7 mT, which resembles synchronous oscillation activity. We also introduce the concept of neuron “magnetosensitivity” under applied alternating magnetic fields.