Human Orientation with Restricted Sensory Information: No Evidence for Magnetic Sensitivity

Abstract

Baker claimed that people are able to orientate themselves to particular geographical locations as a result of sensitivity to the Earth's magnetic field. These claims were disputed by Gould and Able. A study involving a greater number of subjects ( n = 103) and more stringent control over environmental sensory cues was carried out to resolve this disagreement. Subjects responded, both with a direct pointing response and with a verbal judgement in terms of an imagined clock face, to the targets of north, home, and the City of Melbourne. In statistical terms, subjects were not able to orientate towards any target by use of either response. No evidence was found for a magnetic sense in humans as claimed by Baker.