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Using EISCAT radar data, we find that electrons are strongly heated in the magnetic field-line direction during high electric field events. The remote site data show that the electron temperature increases in almost the same way in the field-perpendicular direction; electron heating by E region plasma turbulence is isotropic. We discuss the implications of our observation for the &quot;plasmon&quot;-electron as well as the wave Joule heating models of the anomalous electron heating in the E region.<br><br><b>Key words.</b> Ionosphere (auroral ionosphere; plasma temperature and density; plasma waves and instabilities)