ABSTRACT
Response to the passage of low-frequency sinusoidal alternating current through the body depends on the current pathway, the current magnitude and the duration of current flow. The most commonly encountered alternating current derives from domestic outlets, which is 120-volt, 60 cycles/sec in the US and 120 or 240 volts, 50 Hz in many parts of Europe. The effects of low-frequency alternating current depend on the current pathway, magnitude and duration of current flow. However an additional factor, such as the manner in which the current flow is terminated, may be important in a given situation. The duration of exposure to power-line current is an important determinant of the response. Power-line alternating current has been applied intentionally to a pair of electrodes on the head for a fraction of a second to produce a convulsion, as in electroshock therapy. Electroshock therapy employs the passage of electric current through the head for several types of mental disorders.
