Failure to replicate negative effects of trace anaesthetics on mental performance.
Twenty-four male subjects individually undertook a selection of cognitive tasks during each of two different 2-h sessions in a climatic chamber. Twelve subjects breathed a mixture of air, nitrous oxide 1600 p.p.m. (v/v) and halothane 16 p.p.m. (v/v) during the first session, and air alone during the second session 1 week later. For the other 12 subjects the order was reversed. The tests comprised learning a list of word-number pairs, solving a set of anagram problems, recognizing words and numbers, recalling word-number pairs and performing a four-choice audiovisual reaction time task. Testing was commenced after 45 min of exposure to the atmospheric conditions. A strong learning effect both within and between sessions was observed on the audiovisual task. None of the tasks, however, reflected any adverse effect of the trace anaesthetics.
D000777:Anesthetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D006221:Halothane / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
D000777:Anesthetics; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D006221:Halothane