Resumen

Current research has demonstrated the presence of a magnetic compass in living things. The two most accepted theories of magnetoreception are the radical pair and the biogenic magnetite theory. They are discussed here from an evidence-based experimental perspective. Such evidence indicates the presence of magnetite crystals in otoliths in a number of animals. Further, magnetite found in several organs of humans, added to findings obtained by computational modeling studies, allows us to predict the existence of such element in human otoliths as well. It poses human magnetoreception as an additional function of the vestibular system. Thus, otomagnetism would open a new window of research to better understand the mechanisms involved in balance, gait, locomotion, movement and space orientation in normal and diseased populations. Likewise, the mechanisms discussed here could be of further help in understanding some of the benefits observed after applying magnetic fields in a number of neurological disorders happening in people living in the earth, the sea, the aerospace, or elsewhere.

Palabras clave: Vestibular system magnetite otoliths spatial orientation neurorehabilitation.

2013-10-17   |   525 visitas   |   Evalua este artículo 0 valoraciones

Vol. 63 Núm.5. Septiembre-Octubre 2011 Pags. 509-515 Rev Invest Clin 2011; 63(5-ENGLISH)