The Visual Evoked Response as a Measure of Nitrogen Narcosis in Navy Divers

Abstract

The study assesses the possible use of the visual evoked response as a measure of nitrogen narcosis in divers. Responses to a patterned visual target were recorded from the scalp over the occipital cortex, from divers breathing air in the NAVSUBMEDRSCHLAB's pressure chamber. Records were obtained at the surface, and at 100, 200, and 250 feet. Control dives to 250 ft with the same men breathing helium-oxygen were also performed. The results showed significant decreases in amplitude and regularity of the visual evoked response as a function of depth for divers breathing air but not comparable decrements with helium-oxygen.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 21, 1971
Accession Number
AD0737208

Entities

People

  • Christine L. McKay
  • Joann S. Kinney

Organizations

  • Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air
  • Amplitude
  • Analysis Of Variance
  • Biomedical Research
  • Central Nervous System
  • Classification
  • Compressed Air
  • Decompression
  • Electrodes
  • Escape Systems
  • Navy
  • Respiration
  • Submarines
  • Targets
  • Time Intervals
  • Visual Targets
  • Waveforms

Readers

  • Underwater engineering and Marine Technology.
  • Vision Science/Vision Psychology/Cognitive Neuroscience.