[Magnetic field and alcohol addiction]

The effect of weak disturbance (up to 300 microT) of natural magnetic field on the development of alcohol addiction in rats exposed to information load (training in a complex maze) was studied. It was found that learning against the background of inhomogenous magnetic field led to 3-13-fold increase of alcohol intake in 100 of rats. At the same time, under conditions of the same information load against the background of natural magnetic field, this phenomenon was observed in 45 of animals and was less expressed (a 2.4-fold increase). Unlike the control groups, the effect of magnetic field was independent neither on the level of initial alcohol preference, nor on the exploratory ability of animals. The increased alcohol uptake persisted for two months after the termination of the information load. It is suggested that the higher energetic level is needed in the presence of the weak inhomogenous magnetic field for normal exploratory activity. In this case, ethanol can serve as an additional source of energy