Survey study, 1998
Do brain-like experiences increase when geomagnetic activity is high in women with PMS?
In this very small study, 5 out of 12 women (41%) showed increases in complex partial epileptic-like experiences when geomagnetic activity was high. However, the sample is too small to be confident about this finding.
What they did
12 women with PMS recorded whether they had complex partial epileptic-like experiences every second day for at least two months. Researchers checked whether these experiences increased when daily geomagnetic activity exceeded 40 nT.
What they found
5 out of 12 women (41%) displayed significant increases (effect sizes 6% to 17%) in these experiences when geomagnetic activity exceeded 40 nT. The results support the hypothesis that environmental magnetic factors might enhance these experiences.
What it means for you
Environmental factors like geomagnetic activity might affect some women's symptoms. However, we cannot be confident because the study is extremely small with no control group.
5 of 12 (41%)
Women showing increases
6% to 17%
Effect sizes
40 nT
Geomagnetic threshold
About the study
- Original title
- Elevations of complex partial epileptic-like experiences during increased geomagnetic activity for women reporting "premenstrual syndrome"
- Authors
- Renton CM, Persinger MA
- Journal
- Perceptual and motor skills
- Year
- 1998
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 12
- What was tested
- None
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.2466/pms.1998.86.1.240
Topics
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