Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Hyperbaric oxygen increases parasympathetic activity in professional divers.

V Lund1, E Kentala, H Scheinin

  • 1Department of Anaesthesiology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.

Acta Physiologica Scandinavica
|September 6, 2000
PubMed
Summary

Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) significantly increases parasympathetic tone in divers, as shown by heart rate variability (HRV) analysis. This indicates a stronger calming effect from 100% oxygen compared to regular air under pressure.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

EUFOREA summit in Brussels 2025: inspiring the future of allergy and respiratory care.

Frontiers in allergy·2026
Same author

Shaping the Future of Respiratory Care: A Look Into the Next Decade and Strategic Recommendations by the European Forum for Research and Education in Allergy and Airways Diseases.

Chest·2026
Same author

Impacts of climate change on drinking water quality in Norway.

Journal of water and health·2022
Same author

Does time from previous surgery predict subsequent treatment failure in Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps?

Rhinology·2021
Same author

The GALEN rhinosinusitis cohort: chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps affects health-related quality of life.

Rhinology·2019
Same author

Risk of mortality and cardiovascular events following macrolide prescription in chronic rhinosinusitis patients: a cohort study using linked primary care electronic health records.

Rhinology·2019

Area of Science:

  • Physiology
  • Autonomic Nervous System
  • Cardiovascular Research

Background:

  • The autonomic nervous system regulates heart rate and influences physiological responses to environmental stressors.
  • Hyperbaric hyperoxia, breathing oxygen at increased pressure, can affect cardiovascular function.
  • Understanding the autonomic response to hyperoxia is crucial for diving safety and physiology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the autonomic nervous system in hyperoxic bradycardia using heart rate variability (HRV) analysis.
  • To compare the effects of 100% oxygen (HBO) versus 21% oxygen (HBAIR) at 2.5 ATA on autonomic tone in professional divers.

Main Methods:

  • Ten professional divers participated in two hyperbaric experiments: HBO (100% O2 at 2.5 ATA) and HBAIR (21% O2 at 2.5 ATA).

Related Experiment Videos

  • Electrocardiogram (ECG) traces were recorded for power-spectral analysis of HRV.
  • Cardiac conduction and arrhythmias were monitored using standard ECG methods.
  • Statistical analysis was performed using repeated measures ANOVA.

    • Main Results:

    • Heart rate decreased similarly in both HBO and HBAIR treatments.
    • Total power of HRV increased significantly more during HBO than HBAIR.
    • High-frequency (HF) power, Hayano's index, and normalized HF power increased, while the LF/HF index decreased more during HBO.
    • No significant changes in cardiac conduction or arrhythmia incidence were observed.

    Conclusions:

    • Breathing 100% oxygen at 2.5 ATA significantly enhances parasympathetic nervous system activity compared to breathing 21% oxygen at the same pressure.
    • Hyperoxic bradycardia in this context is primarily mediated by an increased parasympathetic tone.
    • These findings highlight the distinct autonomic effects of hyperbaric oxygenation.