Key result
Inhalation of nitrous oxide during exposure to stress abolished the stress-induced impairment on subsequent learning, although both the drug and stress independently impaired learning.
Why the study?
Does inhalation of nitrous oxide reduce the effects of stress on subsequent learning in subjects exposed to conflict or frustration?
Does inhalation of nitrous oxide reduce the effects of stress on subsequent learning in subjects exposed to conflict or frustration?
Nitrous oxide inhalation during stress exposure abolishes the negative effects of stress on subsequent learning, possibly through anxiety reduction.
Nitrous oxide during stress may abolish subsequent learning impairment; hypothesis-generating and should not yet change practice.
It has been demonstrated that exposure to the stress of a situation involving conflict or frustration may interfere significantly with subsequent learning. Behaviour under stress is characterized by experiences of “anxiety” and by widespread physiological changes. Inhalation of nitrous oxide has the general effect of reducing the extent of these symptoms. The present investigation using insoluble and soluble problems has demonstrated that both nitrous oxide and exposure to stress impair learning; but that, when subjects are exposed to stress while under the influence of the drug, the effects of the stress on subsequent learning are abolished. It is suggested that these empirical results may be accounted for either in terms of “anxiety-reduction” or in terms of transfer effects.
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Russell et al. (1955) studied this question. Nitrous oxide vs. No nitrous oxide was evaluated on Learning after exposure to stress. Inhalation of nitrous oxide during exposure to stress abolished the stress-induced impairment on subsequent learning, although both the drug and stress independently impaired learning.
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