EDA Addition to Oxygen Toxicity Study
Abstract
Central nervous system (CNS) oxygen toxicity continues to be a risk for military divers and constrains their operations. Manifestations of this condition range from nausea and tinnitus to seizures and unresponsiveness, and the latter may lead to death by drowning. Prior research has focused on establishing safe exposure limits and identifying risk factors such as elevated partial pressures of oxygen (PO2) and carbon dioxide (PCO2), prolonged dive times, immersion, exercise, and extremes of temperature. The NAVY has an urgent need for better methods to prevent or delay the onset of CNS oxygen toxicity and to safely expand the scope of diving operations. It is the broad objective of this proposal to generate information that will enhance warfighter safety and performance in relevant NAVY operations by reducing the risk of CNS oxygen toxicity. A study funded by Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), is currently in process at the Duke Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Environmental Physiology to determine if nutritional ketosis achieved through a ketogenic diet can prevent or delay CNS oxygen toxicity.As part of this study, multiple physiologic parameters are being investigated as possible detection methods for CNS oxygen toxicity in the working diver. Electrodermal activity (EDA) has been suggested in previous works to be a potential detection method for seizure activity, the most severe manifestation of CNS oxygen toxicity. This proposal adds the use of EDA to the existing study of the ketogenic diet for reduction of CNS oxygen toxicity already in progress. Electrodermal activity sensors will be placed on the experimental subjects forehead or fingers.Subjects will conduct immersed (head out) dives at 35 feet of seawater (FSW) breathing 100% O2 (PO2 = 2.06) while exercising at 50 watts on an underwater cycle ergometer. The experiment will terminate at the detection of any CNS oxygen toxicity manifestations by the subject or study personnel. EDA data will be collected in Labchart~ software along with other physiologic parameters already being collected. EDA data analysis will be carried out by Dr. Ki Chon at the University of Connecticut. A determination will be made to ascertain if EDA can be used as a physiologic parameter to detect CNS oxygen toxicity and findings will be reported to the Navy.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Nov 26, 2019
- Source ID
- N000141912706
Entities
People
- Bruce J. Derrick
Organizations
- Duke University
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy