JT2 once bubbled...
When it is a proven fact that we can and do become tolerant to the most powerful and mind altering drugs in the world, why is it that Nitrogen is the only black magic exception to that rule?
I don't think it is any different, JT2
What you decribe is the well recognised tolerance to narcotic agents following continuous exposure.
I suspect the major difference with nitrogen in divers is that exposure is not continuous or frequent enought to generate genuine biochemical tolerance.
By the way, an interesting misunderstanding appears to have shown up on this thread.
There is a world of difference between
awarenness of impairment and
impairment. The symptoms desribed by many as narcosis are not, necessarily related to narcotic impairment. Consider what happens to a rebreather diver who forgets to switch on his oxygen. He gets increasingly more hypoxic and his performance becomes increasingly impaired but he is totally unaware of it. Indeed he will simply go to sleep,
permanently in blissful ignorance.
As for those simple tests?
Nracotic impairment is to the higher functions mediated by the cerebrum. The cerebellum seems to be relatively resistant, which is why well practiced tasks such as writing one's name, is a very poor test of cerebral function (and why it is essential to practice drills rather than work them out at the time they are needed).
A more sensitive test of cerebral impairment would be an exercise in simple mental arythmetic, such as
Serial Sevens at depth. (Writing down all the results of subtracting 7 from a particular number only disclosed to the diver at depth.)
For example if you are given the number 88 the results are; -
81, 74, 67, 60, 53, 46, 39, 32, 25, 18, 11, 4
Difficult enough on the surface. Now try it at 100 feet! Remember the number must be unseen prior to the dive - Your buddy gives you yours. You give him his. Scoring is the number of correct subtractions.
81, 74, 67, 60, 53, 46,
38, 31, 24,
18, 11, 4 = 10/12
Why not try it?
Let me know how you get on!
