Increased emergence of alpha activity over the left but not the right temporal lobe within a dark acoustic chamber: differential response of the left but not the right hemisphere to transcerebral magnetic fields.
The percentages of alpha activity per minute over the left and right temporal lobes were measured for the first and second successive 15-min intervals while subjects wore opaque goggles within an acoustic chamber. A weak (5 microT), burst-firing magnetic field was presented during this period for 1 s every 4 s primarily over the left or the right cerebral hemisphere. The results indicated that the left temporal lobe became less vigilant between the first and second 15 min while the right temporal lobe did not. When standardized scores for each subject's measures over time and across hemispheres were employed, increased alpha time over the left temporal lobe relative to the right temporal lobe was observed only when the transcerebral magnetic field was applied over the left hemisphere. Stimulation of the right hemisphere did not evoke this discrepancy. The detection of the effects of this specific complex magnetic field upon electroencephalographic activity may be more probable when the subjects are exposed to partial sensory deprivation.
Persinger
M A
MA
Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. mpersinger@admin.laurentian.ca
D000328:Adult; D000513:Alpha Rhythm; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D003624:Darkness; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008280:Magnetics; D008297:Male; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000502:physiology*