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III.—The Response of Human Motor Nerve to Rectangular Electric Pulses Applied Through Electrodes Placed on the Skin*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 June 2012

W. G. S. Stephens
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology, University of St Andrews.
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Synopsis

The passive electrical impedance characteristics exhibited by the body during rectangular pulse stimulation are analysed, and typical observed properties are specified in terms of the parameters of an equivalent electrical circuit. Equations are derived which describe the current waveform generated in such a circuit by a rectangular pulse stimulator of known finite output impedance. The response of nerve to currents of this form is analysed, and equations are derived which permit the comparison of threshold and intensity-duration data obtained with stimulators of different output impedances. Results predicted by the theory are shown to be in good agreement with experimental results.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Society of Edinburgh 1967

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References

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