Harmonic generation in "non-linear" biological systems.

We describe a high performance, low frequency Fourier Transform based spectrum analyser, with design features particularly suited to the harmonic analysis of the non-linear amplitude transfer functions of various biological systems. A previous published method, using general purpose systems to produce reference and signal plus reference "power" spectra, was susceptible to ambiguous interpretation of results. Unlike that design, the present spectrometer derives quantitative complex voltage (amplitude and phase) harmonics of sampled voltage data, maintaining potentially important information. Based on the use of a basic IBM or compatible PC, it features high sensitivity, high speed data processing and large dynamic range, is compact, easy to use, flexible in operation and low in cost. Its precision current signal source eliminates harmonics generated at the drive electrodes from the measurement. Use of the instrument leads us to conclude that, contrary to previous assertions, no repeatable dielectric or conductive non-linearity is exhibited in the bulk cell suspensions tested under the field and frequency conditions reported.