Electrical stimulation of sensory nerves with skin electrodes for research,diagnosis, communication and behavioral conditioning: A survey

When electrical current is passed through the body by means of electrodes applied to the skin, sensory nerves can be stimulated. This results in sensations that vary from barely perceivable to highly unpleasant. Such electrocutaneous stimulation of sensory nerves has been studied by engineers, neurologists, physiologists and psychologists, who have investigated the interrelationship between the physical parameters of the electrical stimulus and the psychological effect that it evokes, have used electrical stimulation to study the nervous system and its pathologies and have tried to use cutaneous stimulation as a communication medium. Despite a large number of publications reporting the results of this research, certain basic questions still remain unanswered.