Effects of oxygen-enriched air on cognitive performance during SCUBA-diving–an open-water study

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Anne Kathrin Brebeck - , University of Würzburg (Author)
  • Andreas Deussen - , Institute of Physiology (Author)
  • Henning Schmitz-Peiffer - , Department of Neurosurgery (Author)
  • Ursula Range - , Institute for Medical Informatics and Biometry (Author)
  • Costantino Balestra - , Haute Ecole Bruxelles-Braban (Author)
  • Sinclair Cleveland - , Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (Author)
  • Jochen D. Schipke - , Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (Author)

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 languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)345-356
Number of pages12
JournalResearch in sports medicine
Volume25
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - 3 Jul 2017
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 28397524

Keywords

Keywords

  • alertness, Cognitive performance, memory, nitrox, SCUBA-diving