Narcosis - How does it work?

[subaquaman]

The deepest dive on air thread has got me thinking... While I know of the effects of narcosis and have experienced them both first and third hand , I realise that I don't actually know what the nitrogen does to cause it. Can anyone explain what nitrogen does to our physiology to induce the effects of narcosis? :06:

 

[MoonWrasse]

The current hypothesis, as I recall, is that the disolved N enters the nerve cells and interferes with the nerve pulse transmission.

I believe it's similar to the effects of nitros oxide, which you can experience by snorting a can of whipping cream

 

[MoonWrasse]

Here's some reading on the subject:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrogen_narcosis
http://www.scuba-doc.com/nitronarc.html

 

[jeckyll]

Good links. Thanks

 

[subaquaman]

Thanks MoonWrasse. Yeah just checked John Lippmann's book. I've copied a bit below...

The exact process that produces narcosis is complex.... Many diving scientists now believe that nitrogen narcosis is caused by dissolved nitrogen preventing important impulses from passing between certian nerves in the brain.

But in the interests in science I think I'll go get a can of whipped cream!

 

[TSandM]

What you guys may find interesting is that we don't even really know how the anesthetic gases we use in the operating room work at a cellular level. We know what they DO, but not how they do it. Same thing for the narcotic properties of nitrogen.

 

[LavaSurfer]

What you guys may find interesting is that we don't even really know how the anesthetic gases we use in the operating room work at a cellular level. We know what they DO, but not how they do it. Same thing for the narcotic properties of nitrogen.

I know how they work..... They work just fine! LOL
Another one of those wonders of science where it just makes you go Hmmmmm.

 

[Cacia]

I really think I get somewhat narc'd on many dives. Someone told me recently that this cannot happen, say at 50 ft shooting pictures for almost an hour. I was under the impression that it was more relative and there is not really a cut-off depth at which the increased partial pressure of the Nitrogen becomes narcotic... Anyone know?

 

[adurso]

I really think I get somewhat narc'd on many dives. Someone told me recently that this cannot happen, say at 50 ft shooting pictures for almost an hour. I was under the impression that it was more relative and there is not really a cut-off depth at which the increased partial pressure of the Nitrogen becomes narcotic... Anyone know?

It is relative. There are plenty of folks who can tell about their "dark narc" experiences in relatively shallow, colder water. As Ts&M has stated above no one really knows how this stuff works at a cellular level...

 

[MoonWrasse]

I really think I get somewhat narc'd on many dives. Someone told me recently that this cannot happen, say at 50 ft shooting pictures for almost an hour. I was under the impression that it was more relative and there is not really a cut-off depth at which the increased partial pressure of the Nitrogen becomes narcotic... Anyone know?

A recent discussion with a instructor with medical background, I tend to agree with her postulation that many divers get somewhat narc'd based on their post dive behavior.
This might also explain some of the addictive qualities of diving