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This citation and original abstract are from the EMF Database published by Information Ventures, Inc. THE EFFECTS OF EXTERNAL PICOTESLA RANGE MAGNETIC FIELDS ON THE EEG IN PARKINSON'S DISEASE. (Eng.) Sandyk, R.; Derpapas, K. [P.O. Box 203, Bedford Hills, NY 10507 (RR/R.S.); NeuroCommunication Res. Labs., 36 Mill Plain Rd., Danbury, CT 06811 (R.S.); Dept. of Neuroscience, Inst. for Biomedical Engineering and Rehabilitation Services, Touro Coll., Dix Hills, NY 11746 (R.S.); Neurological Clinic IKA, Kallithea 17672, Athens, Greece (K.D.)] Int J Neurosci 70(1-2):85-96; 1993 Extracranial treatment with picotesla (pT)-range magnetic fields (MF) have recently been shown to ameliorate Parkinson's disease (PD) symptomology. This case report describes a 68-yr-old man with a 7-yr history of Parkinson's disease (PD) who obtained little benefit from treatment by dopaminergic and anticholinergic agents. The patient's symptoms (memory functions, depression, and dystonia of the foot) were rapidly deteriorating before initiation of treatment. Electroencephalograms (EEG) of the patient were analyzed with brain mapping software. The patient's baseline map showed two distinct abnormal areas in the right parietal and left parieto- occipital areas. Magnetic fields were applied externally over the scalp via a magnetic probe containing 16 coils, each with an area of 3.14 cm2. MFs were produced parallel to the axis of each coil, thus forming a uniform MF. A 7.5-pT MF was generated with a frequency of 5 Hz for stimulation periods of 10 min each. Fields were applied between 2000-2200 hours in a magnetically unshielded room and the patient continued pharmacological therapy during the study. A rapid attenuation of tremor and foot dystonia with improvements in gait, postural reflexes, mood, anxiety, cognitive, and autonomic functions was noted after treatment. Plasma prolactin and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels rose 3 days after initiation of treatment. In addition, distinct EEG changes were recorded 9 days after 2 treatments with MF and included enhancement of alpha and beta activities as well as resolution of the theta activity. These changes suggest that these picotesla MFs alter neuronal activity in the generalized thalamocortical system and demonstrated, for the first time, objective EEG changes in response to picoTesla range MF in PD. Since the pineal gland has been shown to be a magnetosensor and as some of the clinical effects produced by MF have also been noted in healthy subjects administered melatonin, the authors proposed that the clinical effects as well as the EEG changes noted after treatment with MF were mediated by the pineal gland which previously has been implicated in the pathophysiology of PD. (39 Refs). [Copyright 1994, Information Ventures, Inc.] Keywords: Parkinson's disease, Magnetic fields, EEG, Alpha rhythm, Hypothalamus, Pineal gland, Melatonin, Reticular formation Information Ventures, Inc., [log in to unmask]