electromagnetic forces and - robert o. becker

Robert O. Becker, M.D.Veterans AdministrationHospitalSyracuse, New York

The concept that electromagneticforces might have any effect uponliving organisms-other than thethermal effect due to Joule heating-was for many years rejected by theorganized biomedical community.But under the weight of experimen-tal evidence this attitude is chang-ing; indeed, the medical communityis now expressing considerable in-terest in the possible therapeutic ef-fects of direct application of smallamounts of electrical energy. Withinthe past year reports of clinicallyuseful effects have appeared in thescientific and the popular press.Thus the arguments over the elec-trical nature of life processes, whichextend back at least to the work ofLuigi Galvani, the Italian physicianwho wrote on "animal electricity" in1791, are reaching a new and verypromising resolution.My own laboratory began working

in this area in 1958, and the responseto our reports has changed fromcomplete rejection just over adecade ago through amused dis-belief to-at present-enthusiasticacceptance. I believe the field hasnow reached a stage of understand-ing where it is important to assessthe present stage of knowledge, theimplications of that knowledge,and-especially-the pOSSible dan-

Dr. Robert O. Becker received his medi-cal training at New York University (M.D.,1948) and joined the Veterans Adminis-tration Hospital at Syracuse in 1957 asChief of the Orthopedic Section. He hasrecently given up administrative responsi-bilities as Associate Chief of Staff forResearch to devote full time to develop-ing the work reported in this article, afield in which he has published exten-sively; but he continues to serve as Re-search Professor of Orthopedic Surgeryat the Upstate Medical Center of theState University of New York. This paperis the substance of a report by Dr. Beckerat the 1972 convention of the I.E.E.E.

32 Technology Review, December, 1972

Electromagnetic Forces andLife Processes

gers in premature acceptance ofelectromagnetic forces as a thera-peutic modality suitable for humanuse.My own work began with the

premise, derived primarily fromAlbert Szent-Cyorgyi's theories, thatcells and other biological com-ponents might have various elec-tronic solid-state physical propertiessuch as semiconduction. We haveasked two basic questions:o Are there control systems in liv-ing organisms based upon electronicconduction mechanisms that regu-late important life processes?o If such control systems exist, maythey be perturbed in a clinically use-ful fashion by the application of ap-propriate levels of externally gen-erated electromagnetic energy?Both questions have now been an-

swered in the affirmative, and it maytruly be said that we are on thethreshold of a new era in medicinein which bioelectronics offers theclinician control over basic life proc-esses which even a decade agocould not have been anticipated.Already it is established that elec-

tromagnetic forces can be used tochange three fundamental life proc-esses in mammals-and probably inman:o Stimulationof bone growth.o Stimulation of partial multi-tissueregenerative growth.o Influence on the basic level ofnerve activity and function.All of these effects appear to be

mediated through perturbations innaturally pre-existing electronic con-trol systems. All are produced bylow levels of direct current (con-tinuous or pulsed) administereddi-rectly to the organism. At this timethere appears to be a power-densityrelationship centered at an ex-tremely low power level.

The discussion which follows re-lates only to the effects of continuousor pulsed direct current. Evidencesfor non-thermal effects of radiofre-quency energy can be explained onthe basis of its rectification into someform of direct current within theorganism, with the subsequent ef-fects then being by the mechanismsto be discussed.Several of the effects of electro-

magnetic energy to be discussed areof considerable interestin the clini-cal practice of medicine, and we arecurrently witnessing several initialclinical applications:o To promote healing of bone frac-tures and bone conditions involvinginadequate growth.o To promote rapid healing ofskin ulcers and burns.o To produce general anesthesis(electronarcosis) .o To produce sleep (electrosleep).o As an adjuvant to acupuncture(electroacupuncture ), for producingregional anesthesia and to stimulatehealing.The first two of these are achieved

by application of direct currents of1 to 3 mp.amp. to the organ affected,the third and fourth by applicationof unmodulated or modulated (to700 Hz.) direct currents of 1 to 5mamp., the fifth by using pulseddi-rect currents (variable frequency to100 Hz.) of no more than 1 mamp.I have little doubt that a number of

these will prove to be exceedinglyuseful and ·that enthusiastic ac-ceptance will follow. But one mustunderstand that, despite its preten-tions to the contrary, medicine isnot a science but an art founded inempiricism-a random search fortools that produce a desired effecton the patient. The history of medi-cine reveals enthusiastic acceptanceof almost all treatment. modalities

New research has made clear the role of minute electricalcurrents and voltages in controlling the development of animalstructures and the healing of wounds. Detailed understandingof the life systems involved may be the next great advance inbiomedical science.

Anatomical unit

Matrix

~ ~~-~

Cells 1t Fibers

perloste~

x100

Functional unit(two phase system)

-ApatiteMineral crystals

The author's (and others') studies revealthat bone does in fact display solid-state electrical properties, and thatthese properties are associated w1thliving bone cells-a small percentage of

that are effective without any con-sideration of the method of workingand little consideration of possibledeleterious side effects. Though ex-tensive controls now surround theintroduction of new drugs, there arefew regulations concerning medi-cal devices of the nature ofthose which deliver electromagneticforces. Present evidence indicatesthat such forces have profound ef-fects through the perturbations theyinduce in the naturally occurringelectronic control systems withinliving organisms, and indeed that inthis work we are gaining access tobiological control systems of a verybasic nature. Several very realdangers are inherent in the prema-ture widespread clinical use of these

CollagenFibrous proteinpiezoelectric

x100,OOO

the total bone materIal. Collagen, theassociated fibrous protein in the bonecell matrix, is piezoelectric; it andapatite, the mineral crystals associatedwith collagen, are both semiconductors.

techniques:D Unrecognized deleterious sideeffects-such as malignant trans-formation of cells-may exist, andmay not become evident until sev-eral years have passed.D Applications involving the centralnervous system may induce be-havioral or cognitive disorders of abasic nature-again, perhaps notevident for some years.D In the desire for immediateclinical rewards, extremely importantapplications may be overlooked.D Acceptance of this technique asclinically useful may-withoutproper regulation-bring forthhordes of charlatans and quacks pur-veying ineffective but costly "treat-ment devices."

I believe that the situation isserious, andI urge that, as a firststep, a working union should be or-ganized between clinicians, bio-medical workers, electronic engi-

• neers, electrochemists, and solid-state physicists to help achieve un-derstanding of the uses and dangersof application of low-level electro-magnetic forces.I doubt if such abasic question as how such forcesinfluence biological systems can beanswered without the multidis-ciplinary approach I propose.

The "Current ofInjwy"The work in my laboratory in in-vestigating this field has been chieflyon the role of small electromagneticforces in cellular growth and regen-eration. We began by studying whatis called the "current of injury"-anelectrical potential which always ap-pears at a site of injury in a livingorganism. We measured this "cur-rent of injury" in two closely relatedanimal species, one of which couldregenerate a limb and one of whichcould not. (Most readers will beaware that certain animals-sala-manders, for example-ean regrowan amputated limb; this occurs by aparticular growth process charac-terized by the appearance of a massof primitive cells, forming them-selves gradually into a completemulti-tissue extremity appropriatelyorganized. ) We found very specificdifferences in the "current of injury"which were postulated to be relatedto the two different processes in-volved in regeneration and nome-generative healing.Professor Marcus Singer had pre-

viously reported on a direct rela-tionship between the extent of in-nervation to a limb-its integrationinto the nervous system-and thea~ility of the animal to regenerate

Technology Review, December, 1972 33

that appendage after amputation.We therefore next investigated therelationship of the nervous system tothis phenomenon, and we found thatnerves (or their closely related sup-porting tissues) generated longitu-dinal electrical potentials which ap-peared to have their origin in semi-conducting properties of some ele-ment of the nerve itself. After sev-eral years of studying this phe-nomenon, we developed the thesisthat this property was organized intoa primitive data transmission andcontrol system that dealt with suchmodalities as the receipt of pain sen-sations (indicative of an injury) andthe control of subsequent repairprocesses (to insure that they wereappropriate and adequate).The neural electronic system also

seemed to be related to levels ofconsciousness and biological cycles,and we have developed the thesisthat this system furnishes the linkagemechanism between electromagneticforces in the environment and bio-logical cyclic behavior. Thus wemay for the first time have a basisfor understanding such interesting,generally accepted phenomena asthese:o Reversals of earth's magneticfield are related to the extinctions ofvarious animal species.o Cyclic patterns in the earth's fieldare related, perhaps causally, tobiological cycles.o Disturbances in the earth's field(magnetic storms, etc.) are statis-tically related to behavior distur-bances in the human population.o There is a direct link betweenthe earth's magnetic field and themigratory and homing activity ofanimals and birds.

Fracture HealingWe encountered considerabledif-


Rectification-net energytransfer and unambiguous signal

Mechanicalstress

•t •

+ On OffStress

With the knOWledge of the bone's semi·conductor capabilities, the author andhis associates theorized a control systemwhich governed the observed growthof bone in response to mechanicalstress. Laboratory studies then confirmedthe existence of this system; electrical

Magnitude".. extent deformationPolarity ".. direct deformation

o

, , I I ..

Seconds

signals are obtained from Intact bonewhen subjected to bending stress;the magnitude of the signals is propor-tional to the extent of the deformation,and the polarity time-constant is veryshort-a matter of seconds.

- ~ - DCaIgnatpiezoelectric eqQivaientPH funCtiOn to..,...

fDifferential 0IfferenlIaIbone growth - ... stlltlUlatioft •

01....

This simple block diagram illustratesthe control system which regulates thegrowth of bone in response to mechan-ical stress (short of failure) in all marn-mats, as postulated by the author. The

ficulties in adapting to nerve tissuethe type of solid-state physicalanalysis that we wished to applyinorder to establish the effects of elec-tromagnetic forces. So we thenturned to a study of bone from thispoint of view. This was a fortuitouschoice, since-though bone has nonerve supply-it still evidences sev-eral types of clearly identifiablegrowth response which could be sub-ject to control systems analysis. Onesuch growth processin bone is its

author confirmed this hypothesisby finding differential bone growthresulting from appropriate electricalsignals introduced into nonstressed areasof bone.

ability to anatomically restructure it-self to best resist the mechanicalstresses applied to it-an ideal in-put-output system. Another growthphenomenon of interest is fracturehealing-the only true regenerativegrowth process still available to themammal.A portion of the bone matrix, the

collagen fiber, had already beenshown by Professor Eiichi Fukadato have piezoelectric properties; weextended this study and were able

Disturbances in the earth's electromagnetic field are statisticallyrelated to behavior disturbances in the human population

Stress to failure

(fracture)

•~fT=::J++ -

Voltage

Non-uniform electric field

Fracture

~

Ol- ......-------~,....

+L..- __ --L__ ---I'--_

1 2Hours

Current (I = :) = 1m~/sq.cm.

Mechanical stress to failure-the frac-ture of bone--Ieads to electrical activityof a kind very different from that involvedin the gradual response to mechanicalstress. In the former case, the stimulusstems from an interaction of electricalpotentials in the damaged bone matrix

to demonstrate that the collagenmolecule, in addition to being piezo-electric, was an N-type semiconduc-tor, while the mineral crystals closelyapplied to the collagen were P-typesemiconductors. (These two semi-conductors differ in the followingway: current will flow from a P-typeto an N-typematerial but not in thereverse direction.) With this knowl-edge, we could theorize a controlsystem governing the growth ofbone in response to mechanical stressthat utilized a rectified electrical sig-nal produced by the bone matrixwhen stressed. Such signals werefound, and when devices whichsimulated such Signals were in-serted into non-stressed areas ofbone, appropriate differential bone

and in damaged nerves in the ex-tremity. The result is basically an op-posed dipole which persists for severalhours. in contrast to the signalsfrom stressed but undamaged bone withtime-constants in the range only ofseconds.

growth ensued. We have made manystudies of the solid-state propertiesof bone and have reported a con-siderable amount of interesting datato support this view of how bonegrowth responds to physical stress.The healing of bone fractures is a

completely different ~owth process.Our first effort was to seek an elec-trical signal that resulted from stress-ing-to-failure of bone material, andsuch a signal was indeed identified.When applied invitro to cells thatproduce new bone, a similar elec-trical signal in fact induced changesidentical to those observed at thefracture site. We were soon able tointegrate these observations into acontrol system that regulated frac-ture healing.

It should now be emphasized thatboth of these control systems areessentially self-contained; they fit thecategory of self-organizing systems,and they are in fact relatively simpleclosed-loop, negative feedback sys-tems.

Toward Human RegenerationThe distinction between bone re-sponse to stress and to fracture liesin cellular changes which seem tobe of great importance. In the caseof fracture repair, we found thatcertain cells under appropriate elec-trical stimulation (direct current inp.p.amp.ranges) would undergo re-version to a more primitive cell type(dedifferentiated), and that thisprimitive material was subsequentlyredifferentiated into those cell typesneeded for the particular tissue re-pair process required. We were ableto study some of the electrical pa-rameters of importance; the mostoutstanding was that the effectivelevels of voltage and current hadboth upper and lower limits. Inother words, voltages or currentsabove an upper limit were nonpro-ductive of cellular changes until cur-rent densities became high enoughto produce heating effects.The fracture healing process is

an example of regenerative-typegrowth; new bone tissue is re-grown, and no scar tissue is formed.Thus we were able to use the in-formation gathered in the frac-ture study to synthesize a theo-retical control system regulating re-generative growth in general. Onthat basis we postulated severalpoints in the control system wheremammals, including man, might bedeficient and so unable to achieveregenerative growth-except in thelimited case of bone fracture repair.Correcting one or more of these


theorized deficiencies might lead tothe capability for regenerativegrowth in man. The clinical im-portance of this concept lies not inthe possibility of achieving limb re-growth for humans, but rather inthe possibilities it opens for the con-trol of growth processes to achievemore effective healing.For example: a heart attack results

in the death of a portion of theheart muscle; the normal healingprocess is the production of scartissue across the area. Multiple searformation obviously results in di-minished functional ability of theheart as a pump. At the present timeonly three therapeutic methods seemto be available: grafting of addi-tional blood vessels to the heart withthe intent of preventing additionalattacks, heart transplant, and-pos-sibly-mechanical hearts of varioustypes. NODe of these is particularlyefficient, most are experimental innature, and one can reasonably pre-dict great difficulties in developingthese as effective, large-scale thera-peutic methods.But we have found that some

animals capable of regrowing limbscan also regrow portions of the heartmuscle. The control mechanisms forboth these types of regenerativegrowth appear to be the same.If wecould gain access to these controlsystems in an effective fashion, wewould be able to bring about therepair of damaged heart muscle bygrowing new heart muscle insteadof scar. Similar applications can beenvisioned in many other areas ofclinical medicine; probably the mostfruitful for early application wouldbe in the bones and joints.We theorize that one reason why

mammals cannot achieve manykinds of regenerative growth is theabsence of adequate electrical fac-


Primitivecell mass

CartilageRed bloodcell

Primitivecell

Electrical effectdedifferentiation

Distinctive cellular events stemming fromnerve/bone electrical potentials are asso-ciated with fracture healing in all verte-brates other than mammals, and theauthor proposes that they also occur inbone marrow cells in the fracture healingprocess in mammals. The events of

tors at the injury site. Acting on thathypothesis, my laboratory initiallyundertook a study of limb regenera-tion in the white rat. The theoreticalcurrent/voltage requirements weresmall enough so that we could con-sider bimetallic electrogenic cou-plings as a power source; similar de-vices had been used by ProfessorStephen Smith in 1967 to restoresome measure of limb regenerationin the frog, an amphibian capable oflimb regeneration when in the tad-pole stage but lacking this abilityinadulthood. We investigated these de-vices and found that Smith's Simple,silver-platinum junctions producedcurrents approximately five timesthose required. We resolved this

Bone

Local effectredifferentiation

interest consist first of dedifferentiationof red blood cells into primitive cellsand cell masses, and then the redifferen-tiation of the latter into cartilage andbone. The fracture healing process isthe only example of regenerative growthknown in mammals.

problem by inserting miniature car-bon resistors of various values be-tween the silver and platinum,encapsulating the entire devioe insilicon.Such devices inserted into the am-

putated forelimbs of 21.day-oldwhite rats resulted, in a high per-centage of cases, in the regrowth ofan organized, multi-tissue portion ofthe mission extremity. Bone carti-lage, bone marrow, muscle, nerve,and blood vessels all were regen-erated. While a complete extremitywas not formed in any case, -theamount and organizational patternof the units formed far exceededany growth naturally seen or pre-viously obtained by any technique.

Successful experimental regrowth of a cell population byelectrical energy application warrants a prediction of profoundclinical implications for humans

Platinumelectrodes

---e--Top

Voltagesource

Lucile

Electrical field patternin saline solution with red blood cell

Redbloodcell

Primitivecell

Primitivecellmass

~ 1 hour ~ 24 hours ~I

This diagrammatic representation (top)shows the author's method of obtainingprimitive regenerative growth by simulat-ing the levels of electrical currents andfields which he found to in fact prevail atthe site of a bone fracture in a laboratorymouse. Direct currents in amp. rangesare used to create an electrical field in asaline solution containing red blood cells.

Within an hour these cells have begun aprocess of redifferentiation into moreprimitive cells (below), and within 24hours large numbers of such primitivecells are available. Then can begin theprocess of their redifferentiation intothe various cell types required for the

. tissue repai rs.

The importance of this observationis two-fold. The growth patternmakes it clear that the effect of theelectrical energy was to bring aboutdedifferentiation of a cell populationand its subsequent regrowth and re-differentiation, with the expressionof multiple genetic pathways (Le.,the controlled reading-out and ap-plication of the all-purpose struc-tural information that all cellspossess-the process which occursin its most complete form during thedevelopment of an embryo). Andthe results producedin response tothe level of current used (a total of1 to 3 mJAamp.) were extensiveenough to warrant the predictionthat similar-level currents could haveprofound clinical implications forhumans.

Unravelling the Control of LifeWe therefore now believe that low-level electrical currents and poten-tials, produced either by direct in-jection or by rectification and induc-tion from a field, have the capabilityof bringing about very major bio-logical effects of a very basic nature.The changes appear to be basedupon perturbations produced in pre-existing biological electronic con-trol systems which regulate verybasic life functions. They hold sig-nificant promise for better under-standing of life control systems andfor clinical application to certaindiseases.But the present rapid proliferation

of techniques and devices utilizingelectrical currents and potentials inthe treatment of various clinicalconditions seems to be unjustifiedand indeed alarming; and I am par-ticularly concerned that the veryreal dangers appear not to have beenconsidered very thoroughly by anyof the groups occupied with clinical


applications.I also feel concern for a much

broader problem, which is the con-tinuous exposure of the entire NorthAmerican population to an electro-magnetic environment in which ispresent the possibility of inducingcurrents or voltages comparable withthose now known to exist in bio-logical control systems.I am not suggesting that all clinical

investigation of this modality beterminated; however, I do believethat it should be subject to the sametypes of controls imposed on the useof experimental drugs. Nor am Isuggesting that all use of radio-fre-quency radiation be terminated;however, the application of energyin new spectral regions or increasesin current field densities in metro-politan areas should be carefullyevaluated.What I feel is urgently required is

multidisciplinary research on the en-tire problem of electromagnetic en-ergy and biological systems, cover-ing all areas-the direct injection ofelectrical current into living systems,their exposure to radio-frequencyfields, and pre-existing basic biologi-cal electronic control systems. Myconviction is that this field holdspromise of containing the next greatadvance in biomedical science.

Suggested ReadingsBecker, R. 0., and D. G. Murray, "TheElectric Control System Regulating Frac-ture Healing in Amphibians," ClinicalOrthopedics and Related Research,Vol.73, pp. 169-98, 1970.

Frost, Harold M. (ed.), BoneBiodqnamics.Boston: Little Brown and Co., 1964.

Szent-Gyorgyi, Albert, Introduction to aSubmolecular Biology. New York: Aca-demic Press, 1960.


1. Voltage/currents limits

Direct __

relationshipInverserelationship100

Per cent ofelectrical Cellefficiency of I dedifferentiationproducing cellular changes Cellchange degeneration

I---~==~ __'~l_4I j 10

Current, milA -

2. Non-uniform field> Uniform field

3. DC > AC (essentially no response above 1.0 cps)

Can the process of regenerative growthwhich occurs in mammals when bonefractures are repaired be extended toother lesions? Research is in progressin the author's laboratory to answer

that question; already It Is clear, hewrites, that currents of 1 to 3 mil amp.yield results "extensive enough towarrant the prediction (of) ..• profoundclinical implications for humans."

electromagnetic forces and - robert o. becker

Documents