bioelectromagnetic

Bioelectromagnetism, or bioelectromagnetics, is the interdisciplinary study of how living organisms generate and respond to electromagnetic fields. It encompasses endogenous electrical and magnetic phenomena produced by biological tissues as well as the effects of external fields on physiology, including measurement, modeling, and therapeutic applications.

Biological basis: cells maintain ion gradients across membranes; voltage-gated ion channels, pumps, and gap junctions create and propagate electric signals that underlie nerve conduction, muscle contraction, and cardiac rhythm. Endogenous fields are detected in the brain (EEG) and in processes such as wound healing and bone growth.

Measurement and techniques: electroencephalography (EEG), magnetoencephalography (MEG), and electromyography (EMG) record electrical or magnetic activity. Stimulative and diagnostic technologies include transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), deep brain stimulation (DBS), electrotherapy, and various imaging modalities that rely on magnetic or electric fields.

External exposure and safety: research covers fields across a wide spectrum from extremely low frequency to radiofrequency. Health effects remain an area of ongoing study; regulatory bodies such as ICNIRP and IEEE publish exposure guidelines to limit potential hazards, with emphasis on heating and prolonged exposure.

Applications and outlook: bioelectromagnetism informs medical device design, neural engineering, and biomedical research. The field combines physics, biology, and engineering to understand endogenous bioelectric phenomena, develop diagnostic tools, and explore therapeutic uses of electrical and magnetic stimulation.