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Low intensity magnetic field influences short‐term memory: A study in a group of healthy students
Author(s) -
Navarro Enrique A.,
GomezPerretta Claudio,
Montes Francisco
Publication year - 2016
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.21944
Subject(s) - stimulus (psychology) , audiology , working memory , perception , psychology , posterior parietal cortex , bioelectromagnetics , motor cortex , frontal cortex , short term memory , cognitive psychology , neuroscience , cognition , magnetic field , medicine , physics , quantum mechanics , stimulation
This study analyzes if an external magnetic stimulus (2 kHz and approximately 0.1 μT applied near frontal cortex) influences working memory, perception, binary decision, motor execution, and sustained attention in humans. A magnetic stimulus and a sham stimulus were applied to both sides of the head (frontal cortex close to temporal–parietal area) in young and healthy male test subjects ( n = 65) while performing Sternberg's memory scanning task. There was a significant change in reaction time. Times recorded for perception, sustained attention, and motor execution were lower in exposed subjects ( P < 0.01). However, time employed in binary decision increased for subjects exposed to magnetic fields. From results, it seems that a low intensity 2 kHz exposure modifies short‐term working memory, as well as perception, binary decision, motor execution, and sustained attention. Bioelectromagnetics. 37:37–48, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.