Bioelectromagnetism
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2008-06-11T13:54:02Z
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'''Bioelectromagnetism''' (sometimes equated with '''bioelectricity''') refers to the electrical, magnetic or [[electromagnetic field]]s produced by living [[cell (biology)|cell]]s, [[biological tissue|tissue]]s or [[organism]]s. Examples include the [[cell potential]] of cell membranes and the [[electric current]]s that flow in [[nerve]]s and [[muscle]]s, as a result of [[action potential]]s. It is not to be confused with [[bioelectromagnetics]], which deals with the effect on life from external electromagnetism.
==Description==
Biological cells use bioelectricity to store metabolic energy, to do work or [[signal transduction|trigger internal changes]], and to signal one another. Bioelectromagnetism is the electric current produced by action potentials along with the [[magnetic field]]s they generate through the phenomenon of [[electromagnetism]].
Bioelectromagnetism is studied primarily through the techniques of [[electrophysiology]]. In the late eighteenth century, the [[Italy|Italian]] [[physician]] and [[physicist]] [[Luigi Galvani]] first recorded the phenomenon while dissecting a [[frog]] at a table where he had been conducting experiments with [[static electricity]]. Galvani coined the term ''animal electricity'' to describe the phenomenon, while contemporaries labeled it [[galvanism]]. Galvani and contemporaries regarded muscle activation as resulting from an electrical fluid or substance in the [[nerve]]s.
Bioelectromagnetism is an aspect of all [[organism|living things]], including all plants and animals. [[Biological thermodynamics|Bioenergetics]] is the study of [[energy]] relationships of living organisms. [[Biodynamics]] deals with the energy utilization and the activities of organisms. Some animals have acute bioelectric sensors, and others, such as migratory [[bird]]s, are believed to navigate in part by orienting with respect to the [[Earth's magnetic field]]. Also, [[shark]]s are more sensitive to local interaction in electromagnetic fields than most [[human]]s. Other animals, such as the [[electric eel]], are able to generate large [[electric field]]s outside their bodies.
In the life sciences, [[biomedical engineering]] uses concepts of [[electrical network|circuit]] theory, molecular biology, pharmacology, and bioelectricity. Bioelectromagnetism is associated with [[biorhythm]]s and [[chronobiology]]. [[Biofeedback]] is used in [[physiology]] and [[psychology]] to monitor rhythmic cycles of physical, mental, and emotional characteristics and as a technique for teaching the control of bioelectric functions.
Bioelectromagnetism involves the interaction of [[ion]]s. Bioelectromagnetism is sometimes difficult to understand because of the differing types of bioelectricity, such as brainwaves, [[myoelectricity]] (e.g., heart-muscle phenomena), and other related subdivisions of the same general bioelectromagnetic phenomena. One such phenomenon is a [[Electroencephalography|brainwave]], which [[neurophysiology]] studies, where bioelectromagnetic fluctuations of [[voltage]] between parts of the [[cerebral cortex]] are detectable with an [[electroencephalograph]]. This is primarily studied in the [[brain]] by way of [[electroencephalogram]]s.
==See also==
*[[Signals (biology)]]
*[[Electrophysiology]]
*[[Magnetobiology]]
*[[Electroencephalography]]
**[[Electroencephalography#Wave types|Brain waves]]
*[[Membrane potential]]
** [[Resting potential]]
** [[Action potential]]
*[[Biorhythm]]
*[[Electrochemical potential]]
*[[Electrochemistry]]
*[[Electric fish]]
*[[Electromyography]]
*[[Electrocyte]]
==External links, resources, and references==
''Information''
* A short history of Bioelectromagnetism [http://butler.cc.tut.fi/~malmivuo/bem/bembook/01/01.htm]
* Malmivuo, Jaakko, and Robert Plonsey, ''' "''[http://butler.cc.tut.fi/~malmivuo/bem/bembook/ Bioelectromagnetism],'' ''' ''Principles and Applications of Bioelectric and Biomagnetic Fields''". Oxford University Press, New York - Oxford. 1995.
* [http://www.ijbem.org/ International Journal of Bioelectromagnetism]
* [http://www.isbem.org/ International Society for Bioelectromagnetism]
* [http://csep1.phy.ornl.gov/CSEP/BF/BF.html Direct and Inverse Bioelectric Field Problems]
* [http://www.pote.hu/biofizika/eng/education/lecture2001/bioelec/index.html Bioelectricity]. Biophysics lectures.
''Groups''
* [http://elecmech.snu.ac.kr/project/biomagnetism.html Bioelectromagnetism Research Group]
* [http://www.vanderbilt.edu/lsp/ Living State Physics Group]
* [http://www.berlin.ptb.de/8/_indexe.html Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt]. Laboratory for Bioelectricity/Biomagnetism, Berlin.
* [http://www.psi.edu.tc PSI - Bak] - Human Bio-magnetism.
* [http://www.rgi.fi/ Ragnar Granit Institute].
[[Category:Physiology]]
[[Category:Biophysics]]
[[cs:Biomagnetismus]]
[[de:Bioelektromagnetismus]]
[[es:Biomagnetismo]]
[[fr:Bioélectromagnétisme]]
[[pt:Bioelectricidade]]
[[sr:Биоелектрицитет]]