Long term effects of recreational SCUBA diving on higher cognitive function

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Diving Medicine
• Cognitive Psychology

Background:

• SCUBA diving involves physiological stresses that may impact cognitive function.
• Long-term neurological effects of repeated diving exposure are not fully understood.
• Professional boxers serve as a comparison group for potential neurological damage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the long-term cognitive effects of SCUBA diving.
• To compare cognitive function in experienced divers, non-divers, and professional boxers.
• To identify specific cognitive domains affected by SCUBA diving.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a battery of neuropsychometric tests: Simple Reaction Time (REA), Symbol Digit Substitution (SDS), Digit Span Backwards (DSB), and Hand-Eye Coordination (EYE).
• Compared experienced SCUBA divers (n=44) with no history of decompression sickness to non-diving controls (n=37) and professional boxers (n=24).

Main Results:

• SCUBA divers exhibited significantly faster and more stable Simple Reaction Times (REA) than controls.
• Divers showed significantly lower performance in Digit Span Backwards (DSB), indicating impaired short-term memory.
• Boxers performed significantly worse than controls in REA, DSB, and Hand-Eye Coordination (EYE).

Conclusions:

• Accident-free SCUBA diving may be associated with long-term adverse effects on short-term memory.
• No evidence suggests general higher cognitive function deficiency in experienced SCUBA divers.
• Diving may selectively impact specific cognitive functions, warranting further investigation.