Possible mechanism for the influence of weak magnetic fields on biological systems

TLDR

The study proposes a physical mechanism for the resonant interaction of weak magnetic fields with biological systems. The mechanism models a Ca²⁺‑binding protein ion as a charged oscillator whose transition probabilities shift under combined static and alternating magnetic fields, peaking when the alternating field frequency matches the ion’s cyclotron frequency or its harmonics/sub‑harmonics, thereby altering ligand interactions. The theory predicts a resonant biosystem response to magnetic fields and quantitatively explains the main characteristics of experimentally observed effects.

Abstract

Abstract A physical mechanism is suggested for a resonant interaction of weak magnetic fields with biological systems. An ion inside a Ca 2+ ‐binding protein is approximated by a charged oscillator. A shift in the probability of ion transition between different vibrational energy levels occurs when a combination of static and alternating magnetic fields is applied. This in turn affects the interaction of the ion with the surrounding ligands. The effect reaches its maximum when the frequency of the alternating field is equal to the cyclotron frequency of this ion or to some of its harmonics or sub‐harmonics. A resonant response of the biosystem to the magnetic field results. The proposed theory permits a quantitative explanation for the main characteristics of experimentally observed effects.