ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************

That's a great point William.  You're absolutely right! It's just that her experience may have been a once in million effect potentiated by a host of other experiences and perhaps not reproducible, but certainly real to her and processed in a way common to all of us.  I was contemplating editing my text, when my fingers hit send, and your point is well taken.  Thanks,
C
On Dec 18, 2012, at 7:40 AM, William Katzman <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
> *****************************************************************************
> 
> In a way she was shocked by the monofilament line.  When it comes down to it, don't all sensations result in an electrochemical (nerve) impulse?  And this is one reason why it is hard to differentiate between different effects - particularly at extremes (pain is pain whether caused by cold or heat - thus dry ice "burns" like fire...when in actuality it never burns, we just have trouble differentiating the pain).
> 
> -William
> 
> 
> 
> On Dec 17, 2012, at 10:57 PM, Charles Carlson wrote:
> 
>> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
>> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
>> *****************************************************************************
>> 
>> Hi Greg,
>> 
>> From a quick read through the abstract, it appears the the previously reported review results were not reproducible.   You are kinda on your own with respect to nocebo affects.
>> 
>> We once had a visitor swear that she was electrically shocked when she tensioned a vibrating monofilament line.  One case out of how many
>> 
>> Sent from Charlie Carlson's iPad
>> [log in to unmask]
>> Cell 510-499-8086
>> Try me on Skype (510) 984-3543
>> 
>> On Dec 17, 2012, at 1:00 PM, Greg Danner <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> 
>>> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
>>> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
>>> *****************************************************************************
>>> 
>>> During tune-up for a new plasma display (2 tubes, 4" in diameter, 72" in
>>> length), we became aware that one person within the museum was suffering
>>> adverse physical reactions.
>>> 
>>> I'm curious to know if other science centers with exhibits producing
>>> rapidly alternating and/or high strength EMF have experienced this issue.
>>> If so, what (if anything) was done do to address it?
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Although we have not featured a plasma display in the last 4 years, I'm
>>> unaware of any reactions like this during the previous 6 years when we ran
>>> a 24" diameter plasma ball. As we look to finalizing the new exhibit, we
>>> are considering constructing an open-mesh Faraday cage to surround the
>>> tubes. Before we proceed, we intend to test its efficacy by modeling the
>>> exhibit with a Tesla coil-based plasma ball within a Faraday cage, but I'm
>>> hoping others in the science center world have some experience and wisdom
>>> to share.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Although I was previously unaware of it, when a small fraction of the
>>> population is exposed to plasma displays and other technology that produce
>>> strong electromagnetic fields (MRIs, high-tension AC current), these folks
>>> suffer symptoms akin to those experience when a person is shot with a
>>> taser.
>>> 
>>> The NIH's PubMed.gov describes this condition as "idiopathic environmental
>>> intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields" (IEI-EMF), although it
>>> notes that it is a medically unexplained illness (Source:
>>> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19681059). Other peer-reiviewed
>>> publications have lamented the inherent difficulties of exploring the
>>> phenomena, but at least one has shown a correlation between test subjects'
>>> Tesla exposure intensity from MRIs and a negative impact "in situations
>>> where high working memory performance was required."
>>> 
>>> The most common symptoms of IEI-EMF include:
>>> - headaches
>>> - difficulty concentrating
>>> - spatial disorientation
>>> - short-term memory loss or impairment
>>> 
>>> Many thanks,
>>> 
>>> Greg
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Greg Danner
>>> IDC Manager/Assistant Curator
>>> Anchorage Museum
>>> www.anchoragemuseum.org
>>> [log in to unmask]
>>> 907.929.9283
>>> 907.841.3131c



The opinions and thoughts expressed here are my own and should in no way be construed or attributed to the Exploratorium or related organization, and do not represent an institutional position.
Charles Carlson
Senior Scientist
exploratorium
3601 Lyon St.
San Francisco, CA 94123
[log in to unmask]
Tel:   415-528-4319
Fax:  415-885-6011
http://blogs.exploratorium.edu/whyintercept/












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