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Does hyperbaric oxygen cause narcosis or hyperexcitability? A quantitative EEG analysis.

Xavier C E Vrijdag1, Hanna van Waart1, Chris Sames2

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Physiological Reports
|July 21, 2022
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Hyperbaric oxygen does not appear to be narcotic for divers. Instead, it may cause early signs of cortical hyperexcitability, impacting brain activity and task perception.

Keywords:
EEGcomplexitydivingfunctional connectivityoxygen narcosis

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Area of Science:

  • Hyperbaric physiology
  • Neuroscience
  • Diving medicine

Background:

  • Divers experience higher oxygen partial pressures at depth.
  • The narcotic effects of oxygen under hyperbaric conditions are debated.
  • Hyperbaric oxygen may induce dose-dependent cerebral hyperexcitability.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if hyperbaric oxygen has narcotic effects similar to nitrogen.
  • To investigate the hyperexcitability effects of hyperbaric oxygen.
  • To assess the impact of hyperbaric oxygen on cognitive function and brain activity.

Main Methods:

  • Twelve participants breathed normobaric air, normobaric 100% oxygen, and hyperbaric 100% oxygen at 142 and 284 kPa.
  • Psychometric performance, electroencephalography (EEG), and task load perception were measured.
  • EEG data were analyzed using functional connectivity (global efficiency) and temporal complexity (default-mode-network complexity) algorithms.

Main Results:

  • Hyperbaric oxygen did not alter EEG global efficiency or psychometric performance.
  • A significant reduction in default-mode-network complexity and task load perception was observed with hyperbaric oxygen.
  • EEG global efficiency changes seen with hyperbaric air (suggesting nitrogen narcosis) were absent with hyperbaric oxygen.
  • Hyperbaric oxygen disturbed EEG temporal patterns, indicating potential early cortical hyperexcitability.

Conclusions:

  • Hyperbaric oxygen is unlikely to be narcotic in a manner comparable to nitrogen.
  • Findings suggest hyperbaric oxygen may induce early cortical hyperexcitability.
  • Results inform divers about suitable gas mixtures and potential physiological effects of oxygen at depth.