Magnetic Pulse Affects a Putative Magnetoreceptor Mechanism

摘要: Clusters of superparamagnetic (SP) magnetite crystals have recently been identified in free nerve endings the upper-beak skin homing pigeons and are interpreted as being part a putative magnetoreceptor system. Motivated by these findings, we developed physical model that accurately predicts dynamics interacting SP clusters magnetic field. The main predictions are: 1), under field, group self-assembles into chain-like structure behaves like compass needle slowly rotating fields; 2), frequently changing field encountered moving bird, stacked chain is structurally more stable configuration than single chain; 3), structures disrupt strong fields applied at oblique angles; 4), reassemble on timescale hours to days (assuming viscosity cell plasma η ∼ 1 P). Our results offer novel mechanism for perception agreement with response birds observed after magnetic-pulse treatments, which conducted past specifically test if ferrimagnetic material involved magnetoreception, but defied explanation so far. theoretical supported experiments technical system using high-speed camera. We also new can be tested experimentally.