Progressive Deterioration in Short Term Memory while Breathing Pure Oxygen at Normal Atmospheric Pressure

Abstract

Twelve men performed a step tracking task involving short term memory while breathing pure oxygen from a demand-type oxygen mask, while breathing air from the mask, and in a control condition without the mask. A reliable progressive deterioration over 8 minutes was found while breathing oxygen, but not in the other 2 conditions. The progressive deterioration was particularly marked in the most difficult short term memory condition. It suggests that men should not breathe 100% oxygen at normal atmospheric pressure for periods longer than a few minutes if they must remain fully efficient.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 1973
Accession Number
ADA026855

Entities

People

  • E. C. Poulton

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerospace Medicine
  • Applied Psychology
  • Barometric Pressure
  • Biomedical Research
  • Blood Gases
  • Breathing Apparatus
  • Carbon Dioxide
  • Engineering
  • Gases
  • Human Factors Engineering
  • Naval Personnel
  • New York
  • Oxygen Masks
  • Physiology
  • Respiration
  • Sea Level

Readers

  • Educational Psychology
  • Mathematics or Statistics
  • Underwater engineering and Marine Technology.