Why the study?
Does nitrous oxide affect the performance of psychomotor tests in healthy volunteers?
Does nitrous oxide affect the performance of psychomotor tests in healthy volunteers?
Nitrous oxide causes dose-related impairment in specific psychomotor tests, with memory impairment persisting at least 20 minutes post-withdrawal.
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May warrant recovery monitoring after nitrous oxide; leaves open effects in clinical populations.
The effect of different nitrous oxide concentrations on the performance of psychomotor tests (inspection time, tapping frequency, critical flicker fusion, picture memory and time sense) was investigated in seven healthy volunteers. The results show a dose-related impairment of memory, a reduction in tapping frequency and an increase in inspection time. A paradoxical increase in critical flicker-fusion threshold was observed. There was no effect on critical fusion-flicker threshold or time sense. Recovery was incomplete for memory tests performed 20 min after withdrawal of nitrous oxide. Subjective effects persisted for several hours.
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Cheam et al. (1995) studied this question.
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