Prevention of Shield-Induced Desynchronosis in Invertebrates by a Variable Magnetic Field of Extremely Low Frequency

Abstract

We have found that planarians Dugesia tigrina and snails Helix albescens develop desynchronosis under conditions of moderate ferromagnetic shielding at which both variable and constant components of the geomagnetic field are inhibited. Desynchronosis is diagnosed by changes in the infradian rhythms of the movements of the planarians and the nociception parameters of the snails. We observe the following changes: a decrease in the number of periods or their changes and phase shifts, which are especially pronounced in the shortest periods. In the case of an additional effect on animals of an alternating magnetic field of 8 Hz frequency by the induction of 50 nT under shielding conditions, we observe no change in the rhythmic processes of the infradian range in invertebrates. Thus, we conclude that a variable magnetic field of 8 Hz prevents the development of shield-induced desynchronosis.