title: Age-related effects of increased ambient pressure on discrimination reaction time: A study in 105 professional divers at 6.0 atm abs.
abstract: We investigated 105 professional divers using a computerized visual discrimination trial (Cognitrone) to measure the effects of ambient pressure on reaction times. The possible improvement in performance due to practice was anticipated, and the trials were carried out four times prior to pressurization in a hyperbaric chamber. The effect of increased ambient pressure was measured at 6.0 and 1.9 atm abs, and the potential for residual effects was tested after decompression. The results of our study indicate that repeated testing had a systematic influence on the measured time values. The effects of learning, which were independent of diver age, may have independently influenced response times. Exposure to 6.0 atm abs modified the systematic pattern of learning and was associated with increased reaction times. There were also age-related differences in response times associated with exposure to increased ambient pressures. Younger divers were more susceptible to elevated ambient pressure, evidenced by increased response times at 6 atm abs relative to their older colleagues. One out of every four of the younger divers could be considered susceptible to inert gas narcosis (ION) when an increase of one standard deviation/1SD (> 19%) or more in discrimination reaction time is used as an indicator. ION susceptibility appears independent of body composition and physical fitness. The slowed response speed experienced at 6.0 atm abs was of short duration and returned to baseline immediately with decompression. Our results suggest that IGN is demonstrated by an impaired learning process and decreased response speed and that some younger divers appear more susceptible.
authors.forename: Janne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tikkinen
authors.forename: Martti A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Siimes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D001823:Body Composition; D003664:Decompression; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004242:Diving / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007222:Inert Gas Narcosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011214:Practice, Psychological; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult