Galvanism is a phenomenon where electric currents produce chemical reactions, particularly in biological tissues. Named after the Italian scientist Luigi Galvani, it was first observed when he noticed that frog legs twitched when exposed to electrical currents. This discovery laid the groundwork for understanding the relationship between electricity and living organisms. The term also refers to the use of electricity to stimulate muscle contractions or nerve responses. Alessandro Volta, a contemporary of Galvani, later developed the Voltaic Pile, an early battery that provided a steady source of electric current, further advancing the study of galvanism and its applications in medicine and science.