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Win Remley wrote regarding some researchers theory on N2 narcosis: >We are not all affected the same amount, however. Persons with a high >IQ are affected less than persons with a low IQ. Divers with IQs in >the 130-160+ range have greater cognitive assets and posess the ability >to mentally "get a grip" on the situation and think through the >narcosis. Divers with more average IQs (90-120) cannot make this leap >and simply become impaired. He was not suggesting that divers with high >IQs do not become impaired, but rather >that they have the ability to, at least partially, compensate for the >impairment. An analogy he used was a computer that, having discovered some >damaged circuits, simply re-routes the signals through other functional >circuits. --End of Theory > Couple of comments/questions. First, is intelligence a useful concept ? Second, many different types of intelligence have been suggested: cognitive, motor skills, (I seem to rememeber the number seven as being used by some in the field). Thrird, why is this a "theory" rather than a speculation ? Is there supporting evidence ? Because, I could argue that if you have no intelligence to begin with, but are none the less a good diver, then your IQ stays pretty much the same as the N2 chews at the braincell interconnects (which weren't there to begin with). Fourth, to the extent alcohol acts the same way as N2 I must say that I have ample evidence to the contrary. >The implications seem to be that if this is indeed true, or even partially, >an IQ test should be administered to anyone desiring to take one of the "deep >air" courses. Too rash. Say you and X have your IQs tested. X scores 220 but have zero motor skills and occasionally panics. You score 90 but have never had a problem. Who is more fit you think to dive say Doria ? In short, I have my doubts about this one. >A score of 130 or better gets you in while persons of lesser >mental ability have their c-cards stamped "DO NOT EXCEED 130 FEET." Surely this was written while severely submerged ? If not I feel like putting a "NOT ELIGIBLE TO VOTE" diagonally accross the front of your drivers license. john
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