If the lunar cycle affects earth's gravitational sphere, does
"gravity" exert an influence on earth's magnetic fields?  If so, how
(in layman's terms)?

Human moods are effected by the lunar and gravitational cycle.  New
research suggests mood disorder can also be affected by
electro-magnetic "stimulation".

Purpose of question: Could lunar and/or gravitational phase affect
magnetic fields in the human brain and therefore mood disorder?

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Request for Question Clarification by techtor-ga on 26 Jan 2004 03:58 PST

I've seen a lot of sites talking about the effects of lunar cycles on
human behavior, not just particulatly on mood disorders and magnetic
fields in the brain. Are you looking for a specific source or number
of sources on the subject?

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Clarification of Question by tkk2-ga on 26 Jan 2004 09:37 PST

I am particularly interested in finding scientific evidence (published
paper) that the Earth's gravitation force affects terrestrial magnetic
fields and/or human magnetic fields (in the brain).

It is well known (or widely belived) that lunar phase affects human
behavior.  I am trying to explore if the Moon's affect on Earth's
gravity might actually be exerting an influence on Earth's and
possibly man's magnetic fields.

The American Journal of Psychiatry recently reported that bipolar
patients found relief from depression after their brains were scanned
using MRI technology.

This suggests that their magnetic brain fields were "altered" and the
result was a "more normal", or "less depressed" behavior.

Electro Convulsive Therapy (ECT) has been successful in treating
bipolarity.  This approach has been based on the fact that the brain
is an "electro-chemical" organ.  Perhaps in addition, it is an
"electro-magnetic-chemcial" organ.

The relationships between gravity, Earth's magnetic fields and man's
magnetic fields would be helpful in pursuing this inquiry.

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Request for Question Clarification by techtor-ga on 27 Jan 2004 11:30 PST

Tkk2,
Just to let you know, so far I've found some articles on the Net
talking about the electromagnetism of the brain, though they don't
really go into the relationship between it, the magnetism of the moon
and earth and mood disorders. I've found references though to
electromagnetic forces purportedly creating alien abduction
experiences and electromagnetism being used to treat depression. I'm
not sure though if I'll be able to find exactly what you are looking
for.

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Request for Question Clarification by hedgie-ga on 04 Feb 2004 08:35 PST

Hi tkk2

Is this question still active? 

Please, look at my other answers and let me know if you
want my answer. To do that you type 'hedgie-ga' to the search box on the
GA home page.  I can explain in simple terms what the mainstream
science has to say on the topics. It will not include a paper, as
the topic is a bit esoteric, and it will not support the notion that
gravity  exerts an influence on earth's magnetic fields. Not the way
you may like, anyway. But I will take your questions seriously and do
my best to communicate what is known and what is possible, according to
current scientific knowledge.

If I succeed in that, I would expect good rating.
 So, let me know if you want my help.

hedgie-ga

What you appear to be asking for is how a gravitational field would
affect a nearby magnetic field.  As far as science knows now, they
don't interact.  Whoever figures this out is Nobel material, you're
talking about the Unified Field Theory which doesn't currently exist. 
Though I'm not certain, I believe that the altering of people's moods
along with the phase of the moon is more likely to be associated with
the cyclical nature of the endocrine system (think menstrual cycle in
women) which follows a 28-day cycle just as the phase of the moon
does.

Also, consider that the moon's position relative to the Earth doesn't
change, it orbits at approximately the same distance at all times, the
only thing that changes is how much of the moon is occluded by the
Earth or what angle the Sun strikes it that gives it it's phases. 
Venus also has phases that look just like moon phases when seen from
Earth.

I have seen studies (but can't find them) that police files show there
is no increase in wackos doing things on a full moon than on any other
night, only urban ledgend says the "luna"tics are more busy that
night, there is however more activity in the animal world on full
moons with more light, mothes, fish, turtles, etc. this is interesting
http://www.csicop.org/si/9705/moonshine.html
and this http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/opinions/columnists/gott/c23gott.htm
this one is a little off the norm
http://www.moonxscape.com/Your_Health_and_the_Moon.shtml

You don't need to invoke the notion of a Unified Field Theory to
ponder a possible link between the moon's gravitaitonal field and
earth's magmetic field. Clearly, the moon influences the earth
gravitationally. Furthermore, the earth's core, which produces the
magnetosphere, is itself influenced by the moon's gravitaitonal filed.
The question is to what degree.

Contrary to what you've stated, the relatively small change of
earth-moon distance is unimportant to the question at hand. Because of
their mutual orbit, the angle of the moons gravitational influence
changes with its angular position relative to a given point on earth.
Moreover, the moon's gravitational field is not uniform, of course; it
has a gradient. This is responsible for the ocean's tide changes. And
there may be 'tides' in the earth's core which are shifted in a
similar way to those of the ocean.

These earth core tides may very well change the mangetic field to a
degree that influences cerebral currents. These currents are
undoubtably influenced by any gravitational field in the environment
(just like current on a wire is). Again, the question is to what
degree. Clearly many animals are effected by, and indeed rely on, the
earths magnetic field. Whether biological circalunar (as opposed to
circadian) cycles are ultimately due to the indirect effect of the
moon's gravity upon the earth's core is a big question in itself.
Answering that may go a long way toward establishing that humans are
in principle able to be influenced by that phenomenon.

My personal feeling is that a small but significant influence on the
human brain exists as a result of the lunar cycle. Whether or not the
effect is due to a coupling of moon's gravity with earth's
magnetosphere, as described above, is a good question that I would
like to have answered.