Final answer:
The assumption that large electric currents can stop the heart but not the ability to breathe is false. Both heart function and breathing can be halted by large currents, although normal function might resume after the shock.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that electrocution from a large current can stop the human heart but cannot stop the ability to breathe is false. Very large currents can cause both the heart and the diaphragm, which is essential for breathing, to contract for the duration of the shock, leading to cessation of both heartbeat and respiration. Following a severe electric shock, heart rhythm and breathing may return to normal if the electrical patterns on the heart are reset, resembling a blackboard that has been completely erased rather than one that has been scribbled on. This can allow the heart to recommence with a normal rhythm, preventing the permanent disruption and irregular beating (ventricular fibrillation) that is often associated with smaller currents. However, currents between 100 and 300 mA may cause ventricular fibrillation, which can be fatal if not treated quickly, and currents above 300 mA can cause burns, indicating the seriousness of electrical injuries.