Geophysical variables and behavior: LXXXIV. Quantitative increases in group aggression in male epileptic rats during...

Over a 24-day period the magnitude of the average, 24 hr., global geomagnetic activity was significantly correlated (r and rho about .40) with the average numbers of agonistic (biting) responses between midnight and 0100 hr. in a group of four males epileptic rats. Geomagnetic activity was not significantly correlated with quantitative measures of boxing, mounting, eating, grooming, or drinking. Partial correlations, which also controlled for a weak serial correlation, indicated that the index of geomagnetic activity was only associated with the biting (partial r = .54) behaviors. The results replicated previous studies and suggest that the relationship between aggression and geomagnetic activity is specific and not an artifact of a generalized increase in multiple domains of behavior.