What Researchers Did
Researchers studied how 11 experienced divers adapted to nitrogen narcosis by exposing them to conditions equivalent to 54.6 meters underwater once daily for five days in a hyperbaric chamber.
What They Found
The study found no improvement in the divers' reaction times, which measured their behavioral performance, despite some learning. However, their subjective feeling of adaptation to narcosis significantly improved by the third day. This suggests that while divers might feel more adapted, their actual cognitive performance does not necessarily improve.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian divers, this research indicates that feeling adapted to nitrogen narcosis underwater does not mean their reaction times or cognitive abilities have improved. Divers should be aware that subjective feelings of comfort or adaptation might not reflect actual performance, which is crucial for safety during dives.
Canadian Relevance
This study was conducted by Canadian authors. It covers aspects of diving physiology related to nitrogen narcosis, which is relevant to decompression sickness, a Health Canada-recognised indication for hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Study Limitations
The study involved a small group of highly experienced divers in a controlled chamber setting, which may not fully represent real-world diving conditions or apply to less experienced divers.