title: Weak-to-moderate correlations between global geomagnetic activity and reports of diminished pleasantness: a nonspecific source for multiple behavioral correlates?
abstract: In two previous experiments the ratings of the pleasantness of the experiences for a total of 45 subjects tested within a specific experimental setting were negatively correlated (rhos about -.35 to -.40) with the global geomagnetic activity on the days of the ratings. In the present analysis, subjective ratings from a comparable experiment completed 13 years ago were also negatively correlated (rho = -.50) with the global geomagnetic activity on the days of the experiences. The consistency of these results suggests a common neurophysiological process that generates hedonistic affect with which the multiple types of behaviors, such as aggression, homicide, traffic fatalities, epileptic seizures, and industrial accidents, are correlated. Consequently these apparently "divergent" behaviors are correlated with geomagnetic activity because they are correlated with a central neurophysiological process which may be sensitive to increases in geomagnetic activity.
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Biology, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON Canada P3E 2C6.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Persinger
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect; D018534:Earth, Planet; D006801:Humans; D008280:Magnetics; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology*