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To: techdiver@opal.com
Subject: Cold Narc
From: raymanta@ne*.co* (Raymond Manta)
Date: Fri, 6 May 1994 11:41:40 -0700
# I seem to recall an informal study done by Tom Mount(?) where two 
# groups of divers were taken to 150ft(?).  One group were told they might 
# get a bit of narcosis, but they could easily deal with it.  The other 
# group was told they would get severe narcosis.  The group that was told 
# they would get severe narcosis had all kinds of problems, one person even 
# dropped out.  The other group did just fine and reported minimal symptoms.


I recall reading about a study that was done with 3 groups of divers.
The first group was told nothing about the effects of N2 narcosis, the
second group was told that "if you experience feelings of ... it is very
dangerous and can kill you", the third group was told what to expect,
what we think causes it, what to do, etc.

The first group of divers did a semi-wig-outs, but continued their dives.
The second group had all kinds of divers experiencing exaggerated symptoms
as shallow as 30 ft, with many divers not being able to dive to the deeper
depths at all. The third group had few problems at all. Actually, the 
third group of divers didn't experience narcosis until the deeper depths.
The testing involved several divers to several depths over several days.
I don't recall who did the test, Tom Mount or otherwise.

It seemed the more a diver *knew* about narcosis, the better they were
able to deal with it and its effects.

I refuse to take responsibility for what I just said as it was conveyed
entirely from my memory. :)  I thought the source might have been Deeper
Into Diving, but having just looked, that's not it. Does mention of this
study ring a bell with anyone else??

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