Do we have a “magnetic” sixth sense?Researchers at the Medical School of
the University of Massachusetts, led by neuroscience and neurobiology professor
Steven Reppert, who published their study in the journal
Nature communications, according to the BBC and
The New York Times, discovered that
a protein in the retina of the human eye can perceive magnetic fields. The unexpected discovery opens once again a neglected chapter of
the biology of consciousness that has to do with
the so-called “magnetic sense”. In all the animals of our planet, the photosensitive chemical reactions involve an ancient protein,
the flavoprotein (cryptochrome), which plays an important role in
understanding the Earth’s magnetic field. Experiments on Drosophila flies have shown that these proteins function as light-dependent magnetic sensors.
The new research showed that the human cryptochrome protein hCRY2 provides
a similar magnetic sensory ability. The researchers created a mutant fly, which, thanks to an added human
gene, produced the corresponding human cryptochrome protein instead of
producing its own flavoprotein. As it turned out, the fly still
could perceive magnetic fields.
The experiment revealed that the human protein hCRY2has an inherent molecular ability to
function as a magnetic sensory system, which can pave the way for further research of the unknown
magnetic senses in human.
However, scientists have not managed yet to agree whether and at which degree
people can sense the Earth’s magnetic field.
But there are some indications that geomagnetism affects our visual
system of light perception. But whether the human eye functions as a
magnetic “compass” is still an enigma.
Source:-
http://www.learning-mind.com/do-we-have-a-magnetic-sixth-sense/