QUANTITATIVE INCREASES IN TEMPORAL-LOBE SYMPTOMS IN HUMAN MALES ARE PROPORTIONAL TO POSTNATAL GEOMAGNETIC-ACTIVITY - VERIFICATION BY CANONICAL CORRELATION

Enhanced geomagnetic activity during episodes of biochemical stress has been correlated with inferences of increased lability within deep temporal lobe structures. Because adult limbic epilepsy is frequently associated with perinatal hypoxia or metabolic disruption within this region, a weak positive correlation was expected between possible signs of mesiobasal temporal lobe lability in normal adults and perinatal geomagnetic activity. Canonical correlation demonstrated that young adult males (n = 243) displayed a positive (r = 0.31) relationship between the intensity of geomagnetic disturbance the day after birth only and a history of subjective depersonalization, anomalous visual and olfactory experiences. The effect was very clear when aa values exceeded 30 nT (gamma). Temporal lobe signs for these males were similar to those reported by normal young adult females (n = 313) who did not display any consistent correlation between these measures and perinatal geomagnetic disturbance. The results suggest that interactions between perinatal neurochemistry and the correlates of geomagnetic activity might permanently alter portions of the male limbic system.