EVIDENCE FOR INERT-GAS NARCOSIS MECHANISMS IN THE OCCURRENCE OF PSYCHOTIC-LIKE EPISODES AT PRESSURE ENVIRONMENT

Authors
Citation
Jh. Abraini, EVIDENCE FOR INERT-GAS NARCOSIS MECHANISMS IN THE OCCURRENCE OF PSYCHOTIC-LIKE EPISODES AT PRESSURE ENVIRONMENT, NeuroReport, 6(4), 1995, pp. 695-699
Citations number
23
Categorie Soggetti
Neurosciences
Journal title
ISSN journal
09594965
Volume
6
Issue
4
Year of publication
1995
Pages
695 - 699
Database
ISI
SICI code
0959-4965(1995)6:4<695:EFINMI>2.0.ZU;2-1
Abstract
PSYCHOTIC-LIKE episodes in divers exposed to high pressure have been a ttributed to either the high-pressure neurological syndrome, confineme nt in pressure chamber, the subject's personality, or the addition of nitrogen or hydrogen to the basic helium-oxygen breathing mixture used for deep diving. Alternatively, it is suggested that these disorders are in fact paroxysmal narcotic symptoms that result from the sum of t he individual narcotic potencies of each inert gas in the breathing mi xture. This hypothesis is tested against a variety of lipid solubility theories of narcosis. The results clearly support hypothesis and prov ide new information about the cellular interactions between inert gase s at raised pressure and pressure itself.