1. Introduction

2. Principles of nerve and muscle excitation

2.1 Cellular polarisation

2.2 Polarisation of nerve cells within an electric field

2.3. Strength-duration law of excitation

2.4. Sinusoidal and other biphasic stimuli

2.5. Electrical stimulation of muscle and cardiac tissue

2.6. Nonsinusoidal waveforms

3. Electrostimulation of the central nervous system

3.1. Excitation of CNS neurons

3.2. Synaptic mechanisms

3.3. Synapse electrostimulation within the retina

3.4. The spinal cord versus brain as the site of synapse electrostimulation

4. Temporal and spatial relationships in electrostimulation-based standards

4.1. Temporal relationships in compliance tests

4.2. Spatial relationships in compliance tests

5. Contact current and spark discharges

5.1. Contact current perception

5.2. Electric field induction

5.3. Spark discharges

6. Statistical relationships in electrostimulation

7. Exposure to environmental fields

7.1. Magnetic field exposure

7.2. Static or quasi-static magnetic field exposure

8. Adverse reactions to electrostimulation

8.1. Adverse nerve reactions

8.2. Adverse cardiac reactions

8.3. Adverse synapse reactions

8.4. Adverse magnetohydrodynamic effects

9. Development of exposure standards

9.1. Basic restrictions

9.2. Maximum permissible exposure levels

Appendix A: Magnetic field induction model