Calcium Imaging Machine with Electrical Coil

On February 5, 2010 Jonathan, a graduate student at a major university, contacted me about my research with compound frequencies and the physiological effect they have. His research expertise is calcium imaging of cerebral cortex in mice. Though very busy working on his thesis, Jonathan found time to set up a preliminary experiment using an electrical audio coil and a weak field molecular frequency match I made for caffeine.  Below is email correspondence that took place for the experiment.

We use mice as an experimental model. We do, however, have many ways of measuring physical processes. I have designed some audio files based on the cyclotron resonance frequency of Ca2+, but I have been too busy to test them. What kind of compound audio frequency did you have in mind?

As to what compound would be the most effective demonstration of the effect, several come to mind: K+, caffeine, ATP. Each of these increases intracellular calcium concentration by a different mechanism. I can easily measure [Ca2+]i in brain slices using fura-2. I know some work has been done in this area but I don’t know the exact nature of the research. I definitely need to read more of the relevant literature.

We agreed to use a frequency match I made for caffeine.

A colleague of mine is doing some experiments on the calcium imaging rig. Hopefully I will be able to perform the experiments on Thursday evening. Could you send me .wav files of the frequencies? I think that will produce a more accurate EM waveform.

April 24th

There seems to be a small effect of the caffeine waveform after about 15min, but it’s late and I can’t be certain that it’s not an artifact. I will analyze the data tomorrow.

April 25th

Here are some pictures of the coil I was using. The magnet wire was 22-gauge 40ft long and the diameter of the coil was about 2.25in. so the number of coils is about 68. It was powered by my mp3 player at full volume. If you know how, or know anyone who knows how to calculate field strength based on the information below it would greatly help us in comparing the field generated to that used in other experiments, and also to know if we need more power. I was thinking about trying a large stereo amplifier, but it would be good to be able to calculate what we are already producing and how much of an increase in magnetic field strength that would buy us. Another thought: are any of the frequencies used in the waves you produce below 20hz? My mp3 player doesn’t amplify frequencies below this.

Amplifier response bandwidth 20 – 20000 Hz
Signal-to-noise ratio 95 dB
Sound Output 16 Ohm Earphone: 37mW + 37mW (74mW total)

I will analyze the data and send you some graphs when I have a chance, but the only way to know if it’s not an artifact is to replicate the effect several times. If we always see an effect, even a small one, that we don’t see in the control condition then we know for sure. I didn’t record a lengthy control period yesterday, but interestingly I saw a flat-line when I played single frequency sine waves (calcium ion cyclotron resonance frequencies) whereas there appears to be an increase in intracellular calcium concentration with the caffeine wave.

I wish we had started this experiment a long time ago. My time in this lab is coming to a close and I have to move on, but hopefully before I do there will be a chance to replicate this effect a few more times and try a bigger amplifier or another method of producing the waves (one not limited by the 20hz barrier of my mp3 player). First, I need to finish my thesis.