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Date: Sun, 8 Oct 1995 12:06:22 -0400
To: Sam032093%aol.com;rfarb@na*.ne*
From: m.therrien@Ne*.qc*.ca* (Michel Therrien)
Subject: Nitrogen Narcosis - Adaptation (was: MORE STUPIDITY...)
Cc: techdiver@terra.net
Sam wrote:
>I would greatly appreciate more info posted 

Rod wrote:
>Michel, I'd appreciate a post of the narcosis and adaptation information. 
>Thanks. Rod

Following is a copy of the message I posted on June 8, 1995:

There is an interesting article in the "Undersea and Hyperbaric Medecine"
journal, vol. 22, no. 1, 1995.

Kevin Hamilton, M.-F. Laliberte and B. Fowler did a research on dissociation
of the behavioral and subjective components of nitrogen narcosis and diver
adaptation.  This study was conducted at the Defense and Civil Institute of
Environmental Medecine (DCIEM).

They investigated adaptation in 11 experienced divers in a hyperbaric
chamber  to a depth of 54.6 msw. One dive was conducted per day, for 5
consecutive days.

They found that the global estimate of narcosis (subjective evaluation - how
we feel) showed adaptation on day 3.  On the other hand, the behavioral
component (how we react) did not show any adaptation.

This seems to provide us with a false sense of security.  The global
estimate was made of subjective evaluation of several adjectives (able to
concentrate, able to think clearly, fuzzy, etc).  The study revealed that
judgments about work capability can be differentiated from judgments about body
sensations (work capability judgment showed few signs of adaptation).

I think that nitrogen narcosis is the subject of few scientific researches.
Much more research would be required before we have a good understanding
about adaptation.

PS: The article was obtained from Dr. Kevin Hamilton of BC Research
(Vancouver, Canada).   

Michel Therrien
m.therrien@ne*.qc*.ca*

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