Electricity & Magnetism of the Human Body
- Sylvia Rose
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
The human body depends on electromagnetism. Cells and organs generate signals and use electric and magnetic fields to help bodies function. The heart and brain create the most electricity.
Bioelectromagnetism is a complex interaction of electric currents and magnetic fields throughout the body. It's always at work, influencing thoughts, movements and functions like heartbeat.
The heart is a major electric generator. The human body, an orderly collection of biological tissues, is also a finely tuned electrochemical machine.
The Spark of Life: How the Body Generates Electricity
Every human has an electric field, as do buildings, plants, ions, electric guitar strings and planet Earth. The invisible force is produced by electric charges.
Electricity and magnetism are interrelated. A magnetic field comes from moving charges, like electricity flowing through wires. The body actively generates its own electric and magnetic fields.
The human internal electrical network works on charged particles, primarily ions like sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), calcium (Ca2+), and chloride (Cl-). These ions create electrochemical gradients, flowing over cell membranes.
Nerve cells, or neurons, influence the nervous system. A neuron at rest maintains a specific voltage difference (potential difference) across its membrane. The "resting potential" is like a charged battery.
When a neuron receives a stimulus such as a touch sensation, thought or chemical signal, ion channels in its membrane open. Ions rush madly in and out.
The rapid flow of ions creates a sudden change in the membrane potential, generating an action potential. This is a brief electrical pulse. It travels down the neuron's axon to transmit signals to other cells.
One neuron fires, triggering the next, and so on, creating a chain reaction. This speedy electrical signaling helps humans react to their environment, process information and control muscles.
The average human brain generates about 20 watts of electrical power while awake. The heart generates 60-100 electrical impulses a minute, coordinating its contractions for effective blood circulation.
The heart relies on bioelectric processes. Specialized cardiac cells generate the electrical impulses causing heartbeats to pump the blood through the body. The release of calcium ions in muscle cells initiates contraction.
When the electrical system of the heart malfunctions, it results in arrhythmias, irregular heartbeats. Electrical signals can also stimulate endocrine glands to release hormones into the bloodstream.
Human bodies constantly interact with external electric fields from sources like electronic devices, power lines, and natural occurrences like thunderstorms.
Some research suggests prolonged exposure to electric fields from technology may affect sleep and cognitive function. People using smartphones for over five hours a day have reported sleep problems. Research is inconclusive.
Magnetism: The Invisible Force
When electric currents flow in human tissues, they create corresponding magnetic fields. This makes MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) possible. It uses magnetic properties of water in the body to create detailed images.
Human magnetic fields are weaker than those produced by household appliances, but they're measurable and give insights into health.
The heart, being a powerful electrical generator, produces the strongest magnetic field in the body. It can be detected using magnetocardiography (MCG).
Similarly, the brain's electrical activity generates magnetic fields measured using magnetoencephalography (MEG). MEG helps in diagnosis of neurological disorders like epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease.
The magnetic field interacts with emotional and physical states. High stress can increase this field, while a state of calm can diminish it.
Alternative medicine, such as Reiki and energy healing, manipulate human electromagnetic fields for therapy. Reiki is thought to decrease anxiety levels by harmonizing electric and magnetic fields.
Grounding, or earthing, is a practice some people use to reconnect with the Earth’s energy. Going barefoot on natural ground helps restore balance to the body’s electric and magnetic fields.
Medical Applications
Understanding of the body's electrical and magnetic fields promotes development of several medical technologies.
Electrocardiography (ECG): Measures electrical activity of the heart.
Electroencephalography (EEG): Measures electrical activity of the brain.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS): Uses magnetic pulses to stimulate specific brain regions, a potential treatment for depression, anxiety, and other neurological conditions.
Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) Therapy: PEMF therapy may promote healing and reduce pain.
Bioelectric medicine uses bioelectric signals to help healing. Devices send electrical pulses to injured nerves and tissues. Early trials show this approach can enhance recovery and promote damage repair.
Cosmetic lasers can produce electric and magnetic fields through the process of generating the laser beam itself. These fields interact with the surrounding environment but their effects on skin are yet uncertain.
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