When biology meets polarity: Toward a unified framework for sex-dependent responses to magnetic polarity in living systems

The human body emits a bioelectromagnetic field primarily generated by the electrical activity of the heart, with additional contributions from the brain, muscles, and peripheral nerves. These endogenous fields are not isolated and can be modulated by external electromagnetic and magnetic influences. Current evidence suggests that the main mechanisms underlying such interactions include modulation of ion channels, radical pair dynamics, and ion cyclotron resonance. Several studies report sex-specific differences in responses to magnetic exposure. The main factors implicated in these differences include heart orientation and position, heart mass, tissue conductivity, hormonal modulation, autonomic balance, and cortical field organization. Beyond sex, consistent findings demonstrate that biological effects depend not only on field intensity and frequency but also on polarity (north/south), and direction (vector angle). These parameters are often overlooked or unreported in published works. Some observations even suggest a direct relationship between polarity and sex, with divergent physiological and behavioral outcomes. Recognizing these interactions is crucial to refining models of magnetoreception, resolving inconsistencies, and advancing therapeutic applications of electromagnetic fields. This review integrates evidence from magnetobiology and sex-based physiology to propose that hormonal and structural dimorphism may modulate biological responses to magnetic field. Potential mechanisms involving ion-channel modulation, magnetite orientation, and radical-pair dynamics are outlined and experimental paradigms to test these interactions are proposed. Together, these insights establish a framework for studying sex-dependent magnetic sensitivity in living systems.