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Effects of elevated oxygen and carbon dioxide partial pressures on respiratory function and cognitive performance.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Gill, M; Natoli, MJ; Vacchiano, C; MacLeod, DB; Ikeda, K; Qin, M; Pollock, NW; Moon, RE; Pieper, C; Vann, RD
Published in: J Appl Physiol (1985)
August 15, 2014

Hyperoxia during diving has been suggested to exacerbate hypercapnic narcosis and promote unconsciousness. We tested this hypothesis in male volunteers (12 at rest, 10 at 75 W cycle ergometer exercise) breathing each of four gases in a hyperbaric chamber. Inspired Po2 (PiO2 ) was 0.21 and 1.3 atmospheres (atm) without or with an individual subject's maximum tolerable inspired CO2 (PiO2 = 0.055-0.085 atm). Measurements included end-tidal CO2 partial pressure (PetCO2 ), rating of perceived discomfort (RPD), expired minute ventilation (V̇e), and cognitive function assessed by auditory n-back test. The most prominent finding was, irrespective of PetCO2 , that minute ventilation was 8-9 l/min greater for rest or exercise with a PiO2 of 1.3 atm compared with 0.21 atm (P < 0.0001). For hyperoxic gases, PetCO2 was consistently less than for normoxic gases (P < 0.01). For hyperoxic hypercapnic gases, n-back scores were higher than for normoxic gases (P < 0.01), and RPD was lower for exercise but not rest (P < 0.02). Subjects completed 66 hyperoxic hypercapnic trials without incident, but five stopped prematurely because of serious symptoms (tunnel vision, vision loss, dizziness, panic, exhaustion, or near syncope) during 69 normoxic hypercapnic trials (P = 0.0582). Serious symptoms during hypercapnic trials occurred only during normoxia. We conclude serious symptoms with hyperoxic hypercapnia were absent because of decreased PetCO2 consequent to increased ventilation.

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Published In

J Appl Physiol (1985)

DOI

EISSN

1522-1601

Publication Date

August 15, 2014

Volume

117

Issue

4

Start / End Page

406 / 412

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Respiration
  • Psychomotor Performance
  • Physiology
  • Physical Education and Training
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Hyperoxia
  • Hypercapnia
  • Humans
 

Citation

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Gill, M., Natoli, M. J., Vacchiano, C., MacLeod, D. B., Ikeda, K., Qin, M., … Vann, R. D. (2014). Effects of elevated oxygen and carbon dioxide partial pressures on respiratory function and cognitive performance. J Appl Physiol (1985), 117(4), 406–412. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00995.2013
Gill, Matthew, Michael J. Natoli, Charles Vacchiano, David B. MacLeod, Keita Ikeda, Michael Qin, Neal W. Pollock, Richard E. Moon, Carl Pieper, and Richard D. Vann. “Effects of elevated oxygen and carbon dioxide partial pressures on respiratory function and cognitive performance.J Appl Physiol (1985) 117, no. 4 (August 15, 2014): 406–12. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00995.2013.
Gill M, Natoli MJ, Vacchiano C, MacLeod DB, Ikeda K, Qin M, et al. Effects of elevated oxygen and carbon dioxide partial pressures on respiratory function and cognitive performance. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2014 Aug 15;117(4):406–12.
Gill, Matthew, et al. “Effects of elevated oxygen and carbon dioxide partial pressures on respiratory function and cognitive performance.J Appl Physiol (1985), vol. 117, no. 4, Aug. 2014, pp. 406–12. Pubmed, doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00995.2013.
Gill M, Natoli MJ, Vacchiano C, MacLeod DB, Ikeda K, Qin M, Pollock NW, Moon RE, Pieper C, Vann RD. Effects of elevated oxygen and carbon dioxide partial pressures on respiratory function and cognitive performance. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2014 Aug 15;117(4):406–412.

Published In

J Appl Physiol (1985)

DOI

EISSN

1522-1601

Publication Date

August 15, 2014

Volume

117

Issue

4

Start / End Page

406 / 412

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Respiration
  • Psychomotor Performance
  • Physiology
  • Physical Education and Training
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Hyperoxia
  • Hypercapnia
  • Humans