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Performance deficit associated with narcosis seems to include a number of
factors.  The primary factor is physical impairment of mental processes due to
N2, but a secondary factor is the mind's reaction to its own impairment.  Some
of these reactions, especially fear, confusion, panic, etc., add to the
impairment.   In inexperienced deep divers, the secondary factors can
overshadow the primary factor.  Mount & Milner's studies in the 60's
demonstrated that if new divers were taught to fear narcosis, and that they
would be impaired by narcosis, then they would indeed become more impaired
than a control group.  Narcosis adaptation seems at least in part to be
avoiding the negative secondary reactions to the primary physical effects of
N2.

Cousteau observed way back in the 40's, and my observation is consistent with
this, that intellectuals tend to notice narcosis more strongly than
non-intellectuals.  I hypothesize that intellectuals deal with the world
through reasoning and observation, and narcosis impairs these, so they are
initially more at a loss than people who aren't intellectually inclined.  That
is, intellectuals have more secondary impairment at first, even if they might
(by virtue of high intelligence) still have more intellectual capacity left
after primary narcosis effects than a less intelligent person. 

Based on my observation/speculation, I would guess that high IQ people are
more impaired by narcosis at first than low IQ people (at least to the extent
that they are more intellectually inclined), but eventually can learn to adapt
better than low IQ people.

John
Heimannj@ma*.nd*.gt*.co*

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