Table 6

Effect of EMF on human reaction time performance. See Podd, J.V., Whittington, C.J., Barnes, G.R.G., Page, W.H. and Rapley, B.I.: Do ELF magnetic fields affect human reaction time?, Bioelectromagnetics 16:317–323, 1995.

  All Blocks Block 1
  Mean ± SD F P Mean ± SD F P
No field 220.7 ± 13.6 3.2453 0.0316 219.0 ± 13.4 3.9109 0.0164
0.1 Hz 224.3 ± 24.5     225.5 ± 26.5    
 
0.1 Hz 224.3 ± 24.5 2.0056 0.1319 225.5 ± 26.5 1.4642 0.2688
0.2 Hz 218.0 ± 17.3     219.9 ± 21.9    
 
No Field 220.7 ± 13.6 1.6181 0.2187 219.0 ± 13.4 2.6710 0.0590
0.2 Hz 218.0 ± 17.3     219.9 ± 21.9    

 

  Block 2 Block 3
  Mean ± SD F P Mean ± SD F P
No field 220.6 ± 13.9 2.5963 0.0660 225.3 ± 15.3 2.0116 0.1309
0.1 Hz 221.3 ± 22.3     223.2 ± 21.7    
 
0.1 Hz 221.3 ± 22.3 1.6238 0.2170 223.2 ± 21.7 2.8297 .0493
0.2 Hz 217.9 ± 17.5     216.3 ± 12.9    
 
No Field 220.6 ± 13.9 1.5851 0.2286 225.3 ± 15.3 0.7109 0.7095
0.2 Hz 217.9 ± 17.5     216.3 ± 12.9    

 

  Block 4 Block 5
  Mean ± SD F P Mean ± SD F P
No field 218.4 ± 12.9 5.2296 0.0054 220.4 ± 13.8 2.6113 0.0632
0.1 Hz 226.4 ± 29.5     225.2 ± 22.3    
 
0.1 Hz 226.4 ± 29.5 3.4423 0.0258 225.2 ± 22.3 1.5013 0.2557
0.2 Hz 214.7 ± 15.9     221.0 ± 18.2    
 
No Field 218.4 ± 12.9 1.51921 0.2497 220.4 ± 13.8 1.7393 0.1863
0.2 Hz 214.7 ± 15.9     221.0 ± 18.2    

 

  Sham-Exposure Comparisons
  Mean ± SD F P
Block 1 219.0 ± 13.4 1.0760 0.4527
Block 2 220.6 ± 13.9    
 
Block 2 220.6 ± 13.9 1.2116 0.3779
Block 3 225.3 ± 15.3    
 
Block 3 225.3 ± 15.3 0.7109 0.7095
Block 4 218.4 ± 12.9    
 
Block 4 218.4 ± 12.9 1.1444 0.4135
Block 5 220.4 ± 13.8    

The data was collected in blocks of 30 trials each. When the data was combined, the result was that the 0.1 Hz condition differed from the control, a result that was generally consistent with the result found by Friedman and Becker (see Friedman, H., Becker, R.O. and Bachman, C.H.: Effect of magnetic fields on reaction time performance, Nature 213:949–956, 1967). When the data was analyzed block by block, the implication was the same; of 15 comparisons, 5 were significant at a 5% level, and 7 were significant at a 10% level.

As a positive control I compared the results between different blocks in the no-field condition. No differences would be expected, and none were found.

 

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