MadSci Network: Biophysics
Query:

Re: if EMP is intensified, wili it have an effect on human brain?

Date: Fri Sep 16 10:55:15 2005
Posted By: Lane Niles, Post-doc/Fellow, Scientific Fellow of Research and Development, Aurora Discovery
Area of science: Biophysics
ID: 1125314444.Bp
Message:

Only an extraordinarily high field pulse will have any noticeable or measurable effect on the neurons of the brain.

Consider the baseline or constant field strength that is present across the membranes of all living cells when they are sustaining a "resting potential" of -60 mV. This voltage difference drops essentially entirely across the hydrocarbon layer of the lipid bilayer, which is 3 nm thin. This means that the "resting" field strength sustained across the cell membrane is 20 MV/m. EMP pulses will have to have to be significantly of this order locally -- that is, across the cell membrane -- to affect cells. For example, to change the membrane potential by 1 mV would require a field strength of 300,000 V/m directly across the membrane -- between the inside and the outside of the cell.

This does not rule out the chance that someone could develop an EMP generator capable of these field strengths -- but the shock wave generated in air or other conducting medium might destroy the biological organism before any electrical or EM effects would be sustained.


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