In 2003 NASA published a technical paper describing their research on the use of a 10 Hz pulsed square wave magnetic field or PEMF signal to stimulate neural stem cells.
Results of the 10hz NASA PEMF signal study
In this research they discovered that this particular signal was able to increase the growth of neural stem cells by about 400%. They also found that this signal caused expression of about 150 growth factor genes involved in this increased stem cell production. Because of NASA’s success using this signal for stem cell growth enhancement, a number of PEMF manufacturers have included a 10 Hz signal in their PEMF devices. Some claim that they are using the NASA 10 Hz signal. This is not true for technical reasons. Even if a PEMF device has a 10 Hz square wave signal it cannot possibly be the same as the NASA signal unless the actual original NASA signal generator was used. Manufacturing is never the same from manufacturer to manufacturer, from chipset to chipset and even the material used in the manufacture of the chipset can differ. Still, this does not negate the value of a 10 Hz square wave signal. It is possible that other non-NASA 10 Hz square wave signals may have similar results on stem cell production, but this has not been proven. A 10 Hz signal is a brainwave frequency signal. It is in the alpha rhythm frequency range. That means it tends to be a relaxing frequency and being in the alpha band of the brain can tune the brain to a relaxed state, particularly if used around the brain. In fact, 10 Hz has been found to increase dopamine and 5-HTP levels, important for helping with depression. Research in Germany also indicates a 10 Hz can be very effective and helpful for restoring circadian rhythms that have gotten out of balance, for example in the jet lag seen from flights across multiple time zones.
