Low-level microwave effect on nerve pulse propagation velocity

The hypotheses that microwave radiation can affect permeability of the nerve fibers membranes or myelin sheaths was examined in this study. The changes in fiber membrane permeability affect propagation velocity of the nerve pulse. The experimental investigation was carried out for nerve pulse propagation velocity with and without applied microwave field and different orientations of its polarization to the nerve axon. The 450 MHz radiation was applied polarized perpendicular or parallel to the nerve fiber. The measured field power density at the skin was 0.87 mW/cm/sup 2/. The left and right nervus medianus motor nerve fibers of two young female subjects were under the study. The results of 20 measurements show that low-level microwave radiation caused statistically significant increase in nerve pulse propagation velocity in human motor nerve fiber. It is important to point out that the effect depends on polarization. The changes were detected for perpendicular to the nerve fiber polarization only. The effect would be related rather to reduction of axional resistance of the nerve axon than to the myelin sheath.