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Volume 12: Number 3: Article 6
Biological Effects of Very Low Frequency (VLF) Atmospherics in Humans: A Review
A. Schienle, R. Stark, and D. Vaitl, Department of Clinical and Physiological
Psychology, Justus-Liebig-University, Otto-Behaghel-Straße 10, 35394
Giessen, Germany
The living organism is constantly affected by natural electromagnetic
influences covering a wide range of frequencies and amplitudes. One
of these influences, with frequencies in the very low frequency (VLF)
range, (1-100 kHz) is represented by a phenomenon called VLF-atmospherics
or VLF-sferics. Sferics are very short, weak, and dampened electromagnetic
impulses generated by atmospheric discharges (lightning). Due to this
fact, they can be used to study the characteristics of lightning, as
well as the lower ionosphere. Besides their significance as indicators
of thunderstorm activity, it has been hypothesized that sferics are
able to affect the functioning of living organisms and physico-chemical
systems. More specifically, this atmospheric parameter has been considered
a possible trigger for changes in the somatic and emotional well-being
of humans, sometimes referred to as weather sensitivity symptoms or
meteoropathy. The following review attempts to summarize present knowledge
of biological significance of VLF-sferics in humans.
Keywords: pulsed electromagnetic signals, biological effects
FULL TEXT:
Biological Effects of Very Low Frequency (VLF) Atmospherics in Humans: A Review
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