The effect of nitrous oxide on the performance of psychomotor tests a dose response study

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...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Anaesthesia 1995-09, Vol.50 (9), p.764-768
Main Authors: CHEAM, E. W. S, DOB, D. P, SKELLY, A. M, LOCKWOOD, G. G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Anesthetics. Neuromuscular blocking agents
Biological and medical sciences
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Flicker Fusion - drug effects
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Memory, Short-Term - drug effects
Neuropharmacology
Nitrous Oxide - pharmacology
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Psychomotor Performance - drug effects
Sensory Thresholds - drug effects
Time Perception - drug effects
Visual Perception - drug effects
Citations: Items that this one cites
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Summary: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.
ISSN:0003-2409
1365-2044
DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2044.1995.tb06136.x