Effects of oxygen-enriched air on cognitive performance during SCUBA-diving–an open-water study
Research output: Contribution to journal › Research article › Contributed › peer-review
Contributors
Abstract
Backround: Nitrogen narcosis impairs cognitive function, a fact relevant during SCUBA-diving. Oxygen-enriched air (nitrox) became popular in recreational diving, while evidence of its advantages over air is limited. Aim: Compare effects of nitrox28 and air on two psychometric tests. Methods: In this prospective, double-blind, open-water study, 108 advanced divers (38 females) were randomized to an air or a nitrox-group for a 60-min dive to 24 m salt water. Breathing gas effects on cognitive performance were assessed during the dive using a short- and long-term memory test and a number connection test. Results: Nitrox28 divers made fewer mistakes only on the long-term memory test (p = 0.038). Female divers remembered more items than male divers (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the number connection test between the groups. Conclusion: Likely owing to the comparatively low N2 reduction and the conservative dive, beneficial nitrox28 effects to diver performance were moderate but could contribute to diving safety.
Details
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 345-356 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Research in sports medicine |
Volume | 25 |
Issue number | 3 |
Publication status | Published - 3 Jul 2017 |
Peer-reviewed | Yes |
External IDs
PubMed | 28397524 |
---|
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Keywords
- alertness, Cognitive performance, memory, nitrox, SCUBA-diving