Premium
The puzzle of magnetic resonance effect on the magnetic compass of migratory birds
Author(s) -
Kavokin K.V.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
bioelectromagnetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.435
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1521-186X
pISSN - 0197-8462
DOI - 10.1002/bem.20485
Subject(s) - magnetoreception , bioelectromagnetics , compass , spins , magnetic field , physics , radio frequency , amplitude , nuclear magnetic resonance , schumann resonances , magnetic resonance imaging , orientation (vector space) , earth's magnetic field , condensed matter physics , optics , medicine , quantum mechanics , astronomy , telecommunications , computer science , ionosphere , geometry , mathematics , radiology
Experiments on the effect of radio‐frequency (RF) magnetic fields on the magnetic compass orientation of migratory birds are analyzed using the theory of magnetic resonance. The results of these experiments were earlier interpreted within the radical‐pair model of magnetoreception. However, the consistent analysis shows that the amplitudes of the RF fields used are far too small to noticeably influence electron spins in organic radicals. Other possible agents that could mediate the birds' response to the RF fields are discussed, but apparently no known physical system can be responsible for this effect. Bioelectromagnetics 30:402–410, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.