An Estimate of the Steady Magnetic Field Strength Required to Influence Nerve Conduction

Abstract

The effects of steady magnetic fields upon the conduction of a nerve impulse are considered. Microscopic chemical effects as well as those due to induced fields are ignored. Arguing from an analysis of transport properties, we show that the minimum magnetic field required to produce observable effects is quite large. For the best case, the rield required to produce a 10 percent reduction in conductivity is roughly 24 T.